Berri Says Extension Session's Constitutionality Hinges on Decision-Making

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Speaker Nabih Berri has warned that a session on the extension of parliament's mandate next week would undermine constitutional partnership unless key Christian blocs participated in the vote.

Constitutional partnership “is not represented only in attending the session, because a quorum is already secured,” Berri told his visitors late Wednesday.

Partnership lies in “the participation in decision-making and consequently, the constitutionality of the session depends on Christian participation in voting on the draft-law to extend parliament’s mandate,” said Berri.

His remarks were published in local newspapers on Friday.

The speaker said Wednesday’s session would discuss several issues, mainly two draft-laws that call for “a technical extension through the suspension of an electoral law deadline for a limited period and a long-term extension” of the legislature’s mandate.

The second draft-law has been proposed by Zahle MP Nicolas Fattoush for an extension of two years and seven months.

Berri warned that if major Christian blocs or the “Christian nerve” did not attend, then “the session will be in jeopardy.”

“I will speak out then,” Berri said about the stance of the major Christian blocs - Change and Reform, Lebanese Forces, Kataeb and MPs loyal to Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh.

Kataeb MPs are not likely to attend Wednesday's session. As for the LF, its MPs will probably vote for the extension.

The Change and Reform bloc, which is led by Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun, is also expected not to head to parliament.

But its final stance will be announced during the bloc's weekly meeting next week, al-Joumhouria daily said Friday.

It quoted Change and Reform sources as saying that lawmakers should have agreed on a new electoral law after the first extension of parliament's mandate last year.

“Nothing happened so far. So what benefits a second extension would bring to us?” they asked.

“We haven't received any sign or guarantees that serious efforts are underway to agree on an electoral law,” they said.

Telecommunications Minister Boutros Harb, who is also an MP, said on Friday that the March 14 alliance's independent Christian lawmakers “will have to accept an exceptional extension of parliament's term pending the election of a president.”

“We agree that the extension is undemocratic but our choice lies in salvaging Lebanon,” he said during a joint press conference with MP Dori Chamoun at the parliament.

Parliament extended its term until November this year after the rival MPs failed to agree on a new law and claimed the security situation did not guarantee violence-free elections.

A similar extension is set to take place next week to avoid a further vacuum in constitutional institutions, which began with the failure to elect a successor to President Michel Suleiman at the end of his term in May.

Comments 9
Thumb ex-fpm over 9 years

The FPM categorically opposes extension of parliament but will attend the session to demonstrate their support of democratic practices. However, they will not appeal nor will they resign. They will stay on as the nations representatives serving us to the best of their abilities.

Missing humble over 9 years

Listen to the virulent speech of Batrak...

Missing humble over 9 years

Quite possible that the Church might not be perfect...but you must admit the truth: the caporal is most corrupt. This goes against your feelings and heart...but you are following a dirty man. Listen to General Fayez Karam explaining the corruption inside the Tayyar.

Default-user-icon laba laba laba laba (Guest) over 9 years

source?

Default-user-icon laba laba laba laba (Guest) over 9 years

the FPM who? book? mwahahahahah

Default-user-icon Sebouh80 (Guest) over 9 years

My dear friends does anyone in this site see the similarity between the extension of Emile Lahoud's mandate back in 2004, and the much expected extension of the term of this 128 corrupt Parliamentarians by themselves.

These series of unfortunate events demonstrate once again to the consciousness of the general public that real democracy cannot become viable or let alone be effective in societies and countries that are still dominated by a narrow group of reactionary ruling elites. Sadly speaking, this seems to be the predicament of most developing countries that came into existence through Western imperialism during the period of Interwar period.

Thumb -phoenix1 over 9 years

Defacto, sad thing is that everyone is getting paycheques from everywhere, not just Hakim, but the lilliputian general too, the clerics of the southern suburb, in fact, there's not One single Lebanese mafia politician who doesn't get his monthly payment, M8, M14, those living inside Lebanon, those living outside Lebanon, the habit is hard to kick, but this is the bare truth. Only the honest citizen has to work everyday to make a living.

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

Exactly. Everyone is taking cheques left and right. However, we ought to compare their agendas, their speeches, their views, their faults; and decide who is worse. Saying the right things and doing nothing is one thing, saying the wrong things with self-contradictory nonsense on the side is another thing. Saudi Arabia always made contributions to the state, while Iran only helps Hezbollah

Missing helicopter over 9 years

Shame on LF and on those MPS who attend (with or without a check from KSA)