FPM to Appeal Extension of Parliament's Term before Constitutional Council
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The Free Patriotic Movement reiterated on Tuesday its condemnation of the extension of parliament's term, saying that it is a violation of democratic practices in Lebanon.
MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting: “The FPM will appeal before the constitutional council the decision to extend parliament's term.”
“The appeal is the only way to ensure that the parliamentary elections will be held,” he explained.
“The extension of parliament's term will only lead to the extension of Lebanon's crises,” remarked the MP.
“We urge the constitutional council to perform its duties regardless of pressure it may come under,” demanded Kanaan.
“We, along with the civil society, must protect the council in order to change what has been imposed on the Lebanese people in complete disregard to their will,” he said.
Furthermore, he criticized officials who are fearful of vacuum in the presidency and parliament, saying that the extension of parliament's term will not solve problems.
“Vacuum can only be filled through turning to the people and holding the elections,” he stressed.
“Polls will introduce a new reality in Lebanon,” he stated.
Last week, 95 lawmakers out of 128 voted to extend their term in office until 2017 in a move that was met with huge popular dismay.
The extension session was boycotted by Aoun's lawmakers and the Kataeb party, which is affiliated with the March 14 alliance.
The lawmakers who voted in favor of the draft-law claimed they needed to extend their own term because the security situation is too dire to allow holding elections amid Syria's civil war and in order to avoid a power vacuum.
Commenting on the presidential elections, Kanaan said: “The election of a president is more than a pressing issue.”
He repeated the proposal of FPM chief MP Michel Aoun to amend the constitution in order to allow for the election of a president through the people.
“We seek the election, not the appointment, of a president,” he declared.
In June, Aoun proposed a constitutional amendment that would allow the people to elect their head of state.
His proposal lies in allowing only Christians to vote for their candidates in the first round.
The system then allows the polls to be held at the level of the entire nation to pave the way for both Muslims and Christians to choose the two candidates who received the majority of votes in the first round.
Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Michel Suleiman ended.
Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the elections.
M.T.
11 November 2014, 17:41
34
“The appeal is the only way to ensure that the parliamentary elections will be held,” he explained.
--The only way? How? There needs to be a president to have parliamentary elections, and you guys are boycotting.
11 November 2014, 17:46
44
“We seek the election, not the appointment, of a president,” he declared. Why wasn't this proposed during the 2005 elections? This could have been your platform because you claim to be free and patriotic.
--Again, why wasn't this proposed before Sleiman left? Why wasn't this proposed in Doha in 2008, after Sleiman was elected? We could have had six years to prepare for a direct election.
11 November 2014, 17:49
44
“We, along with the civil society, must protect the council in order to change what has been imposed on the Lebanese people in complete disregard to their will,” he said.
--So boycotting the presidency is the people's will? Did you get their consent to boycott??
11 November 2014, 17:50
45
Complete insanity. As he says that electing a president is more than a pressing necessity, he participates in the boycott of Parliament that is preventing that which he characterizes, and rightly so, as a pressing necessity. These Aouni live in some alternative Orwellian Universe it seems where black is white and up and is down and where nonsense makes perfect sense.
11 November 2014, 17:52
44
His proposal lies in allowing only Christians to vote for their candidates in the first round.
--Wow...how democratic. How about you have primaries, where members of the same party run against each other to get the nomination of their party, then face someone in an election? Campaigning, televised debates, etc. Instead of warlords controlling their parties and nominating themselves.
11 November 2014, 18:08
56
What can one say; this is a tragedy or a comedy I am not really sure. Dishonest and manipulative people who blatantly lie are putting on a show of political posturing and deceit.
11 November 2014, 18:23
54
Bro, yours is one of the savviest posts I've seen in a long time, smart, savvy and sharp.
Cheers!
11 November 2014, 18:23
11
Ladies and gentlemen, behold, the nation's natural gas wealth.
11 November 2014, 19:59
24
Let us just face facts. Hezbollah does not want the legitimate institutions of government in Lebanon to take shape and form as long as it has its fighters out of the country doing Iran's bidding against ISIS I Iraq and the Nusra Front in Syria. Ou Bas. The HA is over extended and weak and so must keep the State and its institutions weak until such time as it can recover its fighters back to Lebanon.
Aoun is the agent for that strategy since Hezbollah cannot with its 12 or 13 deputies perform this obstructionist strategy.
11 November 2014, 20:01
23
When will the ISIS threat end in Iraq? Or the Syrian War end? Who knows, but Hezbollah and Aoun are willing to let Lebanon continue to slide into the territory of a failed state pursuing this policy of creating a parity of weakness in Lebanon between Hezbollah and the State.
But there is the problem that the Nusra front is making inroads in North Lebanon in Akkar and Tripoli and it is the Nusra front that most strongly opposes Assad and his ally Hezbollah. So the Lebanese Government can be enfeebled only to a certain extent before these other issues arise. We need a state. We need a Christian President to lead a unified LAF to put down the Nusra front in Lebanon and sooner or later, Iran will realize this and have Aoun to stand down.
11 November 2014, 20:11
31
HA is part of the larger Sunni/Shia war, it's bigger than Lebanon. Our only real option now is to keep the Lebanese Sunni communities from becoming part of that war. It's the only way to keep Lebanon from fragmenting, I think that's y u see a lot of army operations in the north.
11 November 2014, 21:19
22
Another incompetent, corrupt and traitor from the caporal gang.
11 November 2014, 21:20
24
You are so right. Here is Another incompetent, corrupt and traitor from the caporal gang.
11 November 2014, 23:16
23
Roary Lebanon is not as it is because of Aoun. But because of the blind frightened people like you who clutch to him and his empty hollow bald head.
12 November 2014, 02:13
23
The paid As Safir propagandist spewing nonsense again. The only true Lebanese party lmaooooo right that's why they're allies with a sectarian militia that controls half the country on behalf of Iran, who claims southern Lebanon to be Iran's first line of defence against Israel.
