FPM Challenges Parliament's Term Extension before Constitutional Council
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The Free Patriotic Movement submitted on Thursday a challenge before the Constitutional Council over the parliament's new term extension.
Change and Reform bloc secretary and FPM member MP Ibrahim Kanaan presented the challenge.
Kanaan called on citizens “not to lose faith in state institutions during the darkest times.”
He pointed out that democracy means the staging of elections and rotation of power, demanding the Constitutional Council to issue a decision based on the constitution and that serves the nations interests.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported earlier on Thursday that the FPM, led by FPM chief Michel Aoun and affiliated to the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, prepared a thirty-page document explaining the reasons behind the challenge.
Sources close to the FPM criticized in comments to the newspaper those who are saying that the “challenge is merely a formal step that will not change anything.”
“We regret that referring to the Constitutional Council in Lebanon became a formality... which indicates the extent of corruption in the state and its institutions.”
The sources demanded the council to prove to skeptics and all the Lebanese that the state still exists.
On Wednesday, President of the Constitutional Council Issam Suleiman stressed that members of the council will deal with any challenge against the extension of the parliament's mandate according to norms.
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 Aoun's lawmakers and the Kataeb party, which is affiliated to the March 14 alliance.
Media reports said recently that lawmakers loyal to the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, which is comprised of the Tashnag party, Marada movement and the FPM, would join FPM chief Aoun's party in challenging the extension.
Marada MPs had voted in favor of the extension, while Tashnag lawmakers had rejected it.
H.K.
G.K.
13 November 2014, 09:18
45
the ones who cry wolf actually are the wolves themselves. and one day will regret their folly.
13 November 2014, 14:33
32
no lebanese was happy about the parliament extension. some accepted it because they consider it better than void, but nobody supported it.
the FPM are not only doing the right thing, but also representing the people's will.
in the mean time, m14 who claims to be defenders of institutions once again spat all over them. let's not forget who blocked the parliamentary elections
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Sep-18/271076-hariri-rules-out-parliament-polls-before-president-elected.ashx
13 November 2014, 15:51
10
yes yes let's not forget who blocked the parliamentary elections. It was Hariri who blocked them and the FPM, Amal, and your hizballah sat in the cabinet meetings and watched. We are so much alike, think alike, and speak alike. I just hope posters don't think we are the same poster.
13 November 2014, 18:06
22
yes slash, who blocked the parliament for 18 months? those who peacefully and patiently demanded a just representation, or the saniora clinging to power and maintaining an unconstitutional government?
and yes, who blocked the presidential election? knowing that from the end of lahoud's mandate, until the election of suleiman, the acting president of lebanon was... fouad saniora?
as for the actual presidential elections, they are only blocked by m14's stubbornness to back a disgusting war criminal that the majority of the country cannot and will not accept. blocking the parliamentary elections was just a way to pressure the country into accepting the unacceptable, or face chaos and void.
13 November 2014, 18:12
22
in face of that blackmail, and with the risk of void looming, the extension was the lesser evil, but definitely not an ideal solution.
hezbollah doesnt really care about all this, they have more urgent and important priorities, like keeping the bloodthirsty herds of takfiris and israelis out of lebanon for instance.
13 November 2014, 18:35
10
Oh boy neeto a fairytale.. I love fairytales. Is there a flying carpet in this one.. geewiz I really hope so.. sorry to interrupt mowaten go on with your fairytale.
13 November 2014, 10:17
44
The caporal is the underdog of syria and iran. He is an agent and a traitor. Any christian following a traitor, is a traitor himself.
13 November 2014, 10:36
35
When we read this patriotic, heart-warming news this morning at the office, we all gave it a standing ovation with tears in our eyes. Where would we be without the righteousness of the FPM?
13 November 2014, 11:15
34
why don't they resign ?
in that way, the parliament would be emptied of "half of the Christian" representatives, which would make it unconstitutional...
yalla, be men for once and resign!
or is it too confortable and easier staying in, and criticising the system (as usual)
13 November 2014, 11:21
41
Sleiman Frangieh and the Marada are good Christians and will never accept a Mutelateh like the dirty Caporal...
13 November 2014, 12:51
33
the extension was assured weeks ago, fatouch had prepared the text, yet the FPM waited to appeal before the Constitutional Council until after extension was published in the official paper and became law, they claimed they needed time to prepare it. the appeal and it's result if any will be used only as a media ploy for Aoun and his minions to huff and puff and act self-righteous before the cameras
13 November 2014, 13:30
32
7tarna ya 2ar3ah min weyn badnan bousik. The civilian administrations of this country, be they M8 or M14 have completely and totally disfigured the system, so much so that now it will take a real wizard to know where we're standing. Even a Moroccan Fortune Teller will get lost, let alone us poor souls. Ya3neh it's like an old bicycle, just when you finish pumping the front tire, the rear one goes flat hence and so forth. Now I believe that civilians have shown that they are NOT fit to rule this country, if anyone still doubts it, our opnly savior is the Army. let there be military rule, let the army send home all the politicians, let the LAF rule for 5 years with an iron fist, let us all be under the same law, 5 years and let's purge all the slime from the system. We Lebanese do not respect Democracy, only MILITOCRACY will work with us.
13 November 2014, 14:03
23
I agree with you bro on this one and you know why? because any professional needs good tools to do a good work. A good army like ours needs prove nothing to no one anymore, it is a good army, an army that is loved and respected by all, now that the arms will start coming to Lebanon soon, the Lebanese Army will make our country a lot safer and viable. I am from now challenging anyone who wishes to say that it will shy away from exerting its authority in HA controlled areas, once the weapons come in, so will the army exert the state's authority over the land, all the land.
13 November 2014, 14:18
23
the coustitutional council is our last hope for real democracy in Lebanon
god bless democracy and may democracy spread to the gulf countries
