Report: Parliament Extension to Witness Light Despite Objections

Several scenarios are currently being discussed to carry out the extension of the parliament's mandate, which became a de-facto choice amid the ongoing presidential impasse and the deep rift among the political arch-foes.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Thursday, several parliamentary blocs are discussing three options to extend the tenure of the parliament.

The first compels them to hold a parliamentary session before October 21, the deadline to elect the heads of parliamentary committees, its members and the parliament's bureau members.

However, parliamentary sources told An Nahar that such a move requires a political agreement on the mechanism of extension, which remains a point of contention between the political powers.

Lebanon has been without a president since May when the tenure of Michel Suleiman ended.

Parliament has been unable to legislate over the boycott of several blocs, including the March 14 alliance's lawmakers and Change and Reform MPs. The paralysis is linked to the presidential deadlock.

The majority of the March 8 alliance's MPs have been causing a lack of quorum in sessions aimed at electing a president, leaving the country without a head of state.

Another option requires the cabinet, which is tasked with carrying out the duties of the president amid the ongoing vacuum, to endorse the extension decree and swiftly issue it in the official gazette, An Nahar said.

Sources told the newspaper that if any minister objects, article 57 of the constitution would be applicable.

Article 57 states that “if any delay occurred and a cabinet decree wasn't published in the official gazette or challenged then the law shall be valid and must be published.”

Speaker Nabih Berri strongly rejects the extension of the parliament's mandate for a second time, however, his March 8 allies haven't taken a final decision yet but the Free Patriotic Movement vowed to impede such an extension.

The general elections should be held by November 16 after the parliament extended its tenure in May 2013.

Those who are holding onto a second extension are citing security fears as the main reason to delay the polls.

H.K.

M.T.