Charbel Reveals Factions Want to Extend Parliament's Term: Chaos Will Not Take Place

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel expressed on Friday that he “had a feeling” Prime Minister Najib Miqati will announce the cabinet's resignation, assuring that “chaos is not allowed to take place in the country before the formation of a new council of ministers.”

Charbel revealed to LBCI television that political factions in Lebanon “are seeking to extend the parliament's term for two years.

“It is no more possible to hold the elections on June 9, especially one based on the proportional representation system,” he said, pointing out that elections can take place “without a committee to oversee it and its powers can be carried by the Interior Minister."

Commenting on the extension of Internal Security Forces chief General Ashraf Rifi's term, Charbel said he supported it.

“I did, however, demand time to introduce some reforms in this matter,” he noted.

The minister's statement came shortly after Miqati announced his resignation after a cabinet session in which he failed to pass the extension of Rifi's term and the formation of the committee to oversee the elections.

Miqati stressed during his resignation speech that all political forces must shoulder their responsibilities to “pull Lebanon out of the unknown.”