Constitutional Council Vows to Deal with Any Constitutional Challenge as per Norms

President of the Constitutional Council Issam Suleiman stressed on Wednesday that members of the council will deal with any challenge against the extension of the parliament's mandate according to norms.

“Any challenge will be discussed in the presence of all the council's members,” Suleiman told reporters in a press conference in response to a question if the council will fail to meet.

The Constitutional Council failed to meet in 2013 to discuss a challenge by the Free Patriotic Movement due to the absence of members close to Speaker Nabih Berri and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, who both backed the extension.

The FPM had challenged the first tenure extension in June 2013 before the Constitutional Council and vowed to challenge the latest extension after lawmakers agreed to extend in a speedy session legislature's mandate until 2017.

The extension decision was met by a huge popular dismay. It was boycotted by FPM chief Michel Aoun's lawmakers and the Kataeb party, which is affiliated to the March 14 alliance.

Lebanon has been without a head of state since May, when President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended without a successor.

“The sharp political rift had a significant impact on the work of the council but it never stopped carrying out its tasks,” Suleiman added.

He noted that its members are “keen to preserve the Constitutional Council and extend its jurisdictions,” criticizing rumors that the work of the council is obstructed.

Suleiman also revealed that a regional conference will be held in Beirut on November 14 and 15 to evaluate laws in the Arab countries.

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