MP Aoun voices rejection to extending parliament’s mandate, says will refrain from voting

Change and Reform Bloc Leader MP Michel Aoun offered on Tuesday his condolences for the families of the Lebanese Armed Forces’ martyrs who were killed in Arsal, and said that he had previously warned of such assaults.          

Following the bloc’s weekly meeting, MP Aoun said that the Defense Council is not fulfilling its duties and the cabinet is not heeding warning signals against such attacks.                                       

On another note, MP Aoun praised the stance of Grand Mufti Mohammad Rachid Qabbani and mentioned that the latter was able to recognize the main reasons behind Lebanon’s conflicts.                 

“The remarks made by Mufti Qabbani should be taken into account since they are needed to maintain Lebanon’s stability and preserve coexistence,” MP Aoun said.                          

As for the electoral file, Aoun said that “the main problem is not in extending the parliament’s mandate, but in the fact that the same politicians will remain in power”.                 

Aoun held all those who boycotted the parliamentary session to vote on an electoral law responsible for the current political situation since “the 1960 electoral law and the extension of the parliament’s mandate are both unsatisfactory."            

In this regard, MP Aoun said he would reject participation in a session to vote for extending the parliament’s mandate.    

“The country’s situation in the past 4 years and what we went through prevent me from approving an extension for the parliament’s mandate,” MP Aoun       concluded.