Maronite Bishops Urge Adherence to Constitutional Practices at Parliament

The Maronite Bishops council noted on Wednesday that the recent dispute at parliament has created division in Lebanon “that is unwanted by all sides.”

It urged in a statement after its monthly meeting “the adherence to constitutional practices” at parliament, calling on all sides against violating the “treaty of coexistence.”

In addition, it said that they must also respect the principles of fair participation in governing.

Commenting on the parliament session, the bishops said: “The legislative session on the case of Electricite du Liban contract employees negatively affected cabinet, which failed to convene.”

“We acknowledge that everyone must be granted their rights, but we also stress the need to support auditing institutions in order for them to play their normal role of selecting employees based on competency,” they explained after the meeting which was chaired by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

In addition, the bishops questioned “the current state of paralysis in Lebanon and the dangerous decline in trust between the Lebanese and their mounting doubts over the state’s ability to protect them.”

They highlighted the need for all sides to return to the values instated by the 1943 national pact that the Lebanese had all agreed upon.

“It should serve as the basis of maintaining national unity and Lebanon’s ties with other countries,” it stressed.

“The charter emphasized coexistence and rejected foreign meddling and alliances with various axes,” noted the Maronite bishops.

“The Lebanese, who pledged before God and history to maintain Lebanon’s unity, positive neutrality, and the best of ties with various countries, are now urged to commit to this pact,” they declared.

On this note, they stressed the importance of national dialogue “as a pressing need at this point in time.”

“Dialogue will help assert trust among the various parties and reach an honest and real agreement over contentious issues,” they stated.

On Monday, a draft law on EDL contract workers’ full-employment was approved by parliament in a step that incurred the disapproval of Christian blocs, who consequently boycotted a parliament session on Tuesday.

The move also prompted the Change and Reform bloc to boycott cabinet sessions that were set for Tuesday and Wednesday.

“The boycott is based on political reasons and not sectarian ones,” Speaker Nabih Berri said.