Suleiman Says Challenging Extension to Shorten Parliament's Term, Push for Adopting New Vote Law

President Michel Suleiman submitted on Saturday an appeal to challenge the parliament's decision to extend its mandate, calling on the Constitutional Council to “legally and neutrally” study this file.

“I wish the Council studies the challenge by adopting an entirely neutral and legal perspective to allow the parliament to consider shortening the extension and to push for adopting a new electoral law,” Suleiman urged in a speech he gave after with submitting the challenge before the Constitutional Council.

Explaining how he is challenging the extension after signing the parliament's decision, the president said Article 19 of the constitution does not allow an appeal before signing the decision under consideration.

He added: “The article regulating extension says it must be published in the official gazette within 5 days, therefore, I had to take a quick decision.”

Suleiman said there have been “a failure” in holding a parliamentary session and a postponement until the last date of its current term.

“I did not apply article 59 of the constitution that calls for postponing the parliamentary session and instead signed and challenged the extension to avoid abusing power and paralyzing the parliament,” he clarified.

“I did it as a respect of the parliament's powers. Putting the session off would have denied the parliament the right of convening and contributed to disabling the legislative authority.”

Al-Jadeed television noted that the Constitutional Council could approve half of Suleiman's challenge only that obliges the parliament to shorten the extension time-frame.

It also explained that the challenged requires 7 votes to be approved.

“The rejection of four members would cancel it,” the TV channel pointed out.

The parliament's decision to postpone the upcoming elections and extend its term 17 months because of deteriorating security conditions related to Syria's turmoil was officially announced and published in the official gazette on Friday.

The extension decision comes after rival blocs in the legislature failed to agree on a new elections law.

Both pro- and anti-Syrian blocs in parliament agreed on the extension, with one exception being the Free Patriotic Movement of MP Michel Aoun, which has the second largest bloc in parliament.

Both Aoun the Suleiman vowed to challenge the extension before the Constitutional Council.

The decision, which had been expected, marks the first time that parliament has had to extend its term since the country's own 15-year civil war ended in 1990, and underlines the growing turmoil in the country spilling over from the conflict in its neighbor.