MPs Elect Parliament Bureau, Committee Members ahead of Expected Mandate Extension

Parliament's bureau members were reelected during a short session on Tuesday as a first implicit step towards a second extension of the legislature's term.

MPs also elected the heads, members and rapporteurs of 16 parliamentary committees in line with the internal system.

Speaker Nabih Berri hoped in remarks to the lawmakers that they “would agree on everything including the election of a president.”

Parliamentary sessions on the election of a head of state have been paralyzed over the differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances on a compromise candidate.

Their dispute left Baabda Palace vacant since the expiry of President Michel Suleiman's six-year term end of May.

Tuesday's session was seen as a first tacit move towards the extension of the parliament's term, which is likely to take place end of the month.

Poor security and a disagreement among rival MPs over a draft-law on the elections forced the extension last year.

The same political blocs are now demanding that the polls, which are set for November, be held even even if they failed to elect a successor to Suleiman.

Others are calling for the extension of the legislature’s term for more than two years under the excuse that the security situation does not permit to hold the polls.

Berri discussed the issue with al-Mustaqbal bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora and deputy Speaker MP Farid Makari following Tuesday's short session.

A draft-law proposed by Zahle MP Nicolas Fattoush calls for an extension of two years and seven months.

Fattoush's proposal in addition to another draft-law suggested by the Lebanese Forces - to amend the legal deadline to run in the elections and form a committee to supervise the polls - are expected to top the agenda of next week's session.

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