Report: FPM Delays Endorsement of Committee Overseeing Parliamentary Elections
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Free Patriotic Movement is allegedly behind the delay in publishing in the official gazette a cabinet decree on appointment of members of the committee that will oversee the upcoming parliamentary elections.
According to An Nahar newspaper the FPM rejected during Thursday's cabinet session the appointment of several members without naming replacements, thus refusing to sign the decree.
The newspaper that Friday was the deadline for the appointment decree to be endorsed by the government, which should have been placed in effect last month.
Sources told the daily that Education Minister Elias Bou Saab, who is affiliated to the FPM, voiced disagreement on the names of Christians appointed in the committee, prompting Prime Minister Tammam Salam to demand him to propose by Friday morning substitutes in order to include the decree in the official gazette.
But Bou Saab didn't suggest any names.
An Nahar reported that the development comes in light of an agreement between FPM leader Michel Aoun and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to extend the tenure of the parliament.
On Thursday, the cabinet appointed the members of the committee that will oversee the upcoming parliamentary elections, naming ex-judge Nadim Abdul Malak as its head.
Media reports said that the Progressive Socialist Party and the March 14 MPs will submit their nominations, while Speaker Nabih Berri and his Development and Liberation parliamentary bloc had already submitted their candidacies for the polls last week.
Differences have loomed to the surface among the members of the March 14 coalition over holding the polls in light of the vacuum in the presidency.
Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq issued a memo last week detailing the documents needed for those seeking to run in the elections on November 16.
The memo was based on a decree that he issued last month, calling on the electoral bodies to elect lawmakers.
It stated that nominations will be accepted from August 28 to September 16.
Last year, the rival MPs extended their tenure until November 2014 after they failed to agree on a new electoral draft-law.
13 September 2014, 10:33
96
An Nahar reported that the development comes in light of an agreement between FPM leader Michel Aoun and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to extend the tenure of the parliament.
LOL, now it is ok to extend Parliament's term. I don't know how they can face their followers and keep a straight face!
13 September 2014, 14:27
77
You lie. You twist facts. You contradict yourself. And when you're cornered, you start calling people names and screaming (in writing).
We see through you, my friend.
13 September 2014, 19:14
32
f.t.,
Since FPM won 57% of the Christian vote under the old law, they should be able to do the same again and then they will have 4 more years under a legitimate Parliament to work their new electoral law and get it approved.
The fact is that Aoun is afraid to show his current popularity amongst Christians and would lose his claim to be the strongest Christian and hence his right for the presidency.
Pierre Gemayel (the founder of Kataeb) was the strongest Christian for decades and he never practiced the unconstitutional ploys that Aoun is practicing to become the President. He abided by the constitution and as a result he was never elected President.
13 September 2014, 20:26
23
Again, twist the facts. helicopter is talking about CHRISTIAN vote. You twist the fact by talking about POPULAR vote (i.e. Christian, Muslim and everything in between).
But, never mind, keep playing your little propaganda games.
13 September 2014, 11:42
97
They are obeying orders....
In the HISTORY of Christians they have never lost but when the traitors where from within.
13 September 2014, 12:14
86
Stupendous comment and by far exceeds all your previous comments. Top rated, way up there, un-matchable in depth, content, and relevance.
13 September 2014, 11:52
00
I used to sometimes visit Naharnet to just read Flame Thrower's comments. Now, I visit it all the time
13 September 2014, 15:24
65
FPM boycotts sessions meant to elect the President on grounds that it wishes a consensus on Michel Aoun, an undeclared candidate. No Aoun means no President, so says TPN
Now FPM ( The Party of No) so, the TPN objects to the names on the electoral committee without suggesting alternatives thus blocking the preliminary steps to elections in November, the expiration of the currently extended mandate. Without a second extension, there becomes a total void in the legal government. With an extension, there is diminished credibility in the carry over extended body.
Gemayel is correct, without an outside power putting an end to TPN's mindless obstruction, the Republic is put at risk.
13 September 2014, 19:25
35
Of course Aoun wants to extend Parliament's term. He's lost so much support that elections will expose him, and he's not willing to lose seats in Parliament because he wants to be seen as the leader of Christians.
