Makari Calls on Berri to Return Request to Strip Merehbi of Immunity
Deputy Speaker Farid Makari called on Speaker Nabih Berri to return a request filed by Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi to strip MP Moeen al-Merehbi of his parliamentary immunity, considering that it violates the constitution.
“I hope that Berri would act upon his typical wisdom and returns the request as failing to approve it at the joint meeting between the parliament’s bureau and the administrative committee would be exploited by some officials to create strife” in the country, Makari said in a statement issued by his press office.
He pointed out that more than half of the lawmakers would reject lifting immunity off Merehbi as it is a clear violation of article 39 of the constitution.
It states that “no member of the Chamber may be prosecuted because of ideas and opinions expressed during the period of his mandate.”
“Stripping Merehbi of his immunity would depict the parliament as divided between those who support the army and those who don’t… All Lebanese support the army,” the statement noted.
On July 31, the Army Command announced that it had “launched measures aimed at prosecuting Merehbi” after he “insisted on attacking the military institution and insulting its leadership.”
Earlier that day, Merehbi slammed Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji as an “unsuccessful person,” accusing him of being “responsible for all the mistakes and seditions.”
The lawmaker also said the army commander is “an employee who should do his job,” accusing him of “exploiting the (military) institution in order to become the next president of the republic.”
Merehbi has been locked in a war of words with the military institution ever since the shooting death in May of Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Wahed at an army checkpoint in Akkar.
Makari lashed out at Qortbawi, accusing him of practicing malicious acts.
“Instead of lifting immunity off an MP, who represents the people, over his political opinions, we should seek to protect the people by giving immunity to the army by a strict political decision that would preserve security and stability in the country,” the statement added.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://cdn.naharnet.com/stories/en/51107 |