Suleiman Signs Draft Law Suspending Nominations Deadline until May 19

President Michel Suleiman signed Friday a draft law suspending the deadline for submitting nominations for the parliamentary elections until May 19.

The draft law was referred to the president on Wednesday after it was approved by parliament.

The session, headed by Speaker Nabih Berri, was attended by all political blocs, except the National Struggle Front of MP Walid Jumblat.

Independent MPs Butros Harb and Nicolas Fattoush voiced their objection to the parliament's decision.

The draft law calls for setting the deadline for submitting nominations to three weeks before the elections date, reported MTV.

It also allows candidates who seek to withdraw their nominations to do so two weeks before the polls, said LBCI television.

Suleiman announced on Twitter that he will sign the law to "allow the approval of a modern electoral law based on proportional representation."

"Returning the law to parliament will lead to the uncontested win of the candidates (who have already submitted their requests) given the fact that the deadline is approaching and we might not be able to approve a new law," Suleiman explained.

“Signing the law and issuing it do not prevent examining whether it is compatible with the democratic principles and the articles of the Lebanese constitution,” the president added.

Prior to the session, Berri held a series of phone calls and meetings at his office to set the stage for consensus on the required amendments of articles in the 1960 electoral law.

Jumblat had informed Berri in a meeting of his rejection to suspend the deadlines set by the 1960 law.

An initial agreement to suspend the deadlines to May 19 was reached on Tuesday at a meeting held by parliament's bureau and attended by caretaker Premier Najib Miqati, lawmakers from the Lebanese Forces and the Phalange, and Marada movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh.