FPM to Appeal Extension of Parliament's Term before Constitutional Council
The Free Patriotic Movement reiterated on Tuesday its condemnation of the extension of parliament's term, saying that it is a violation of democratic practices in Lebanon.
MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting: “The FPM will appeal before the constitutional council the decision to extend parliament's term.”
“The appeal is the only way to ensure that the parliamentary elections will be held,” he explained.
“The extension of parliament's term will only lead to the extension of Lebanon's crises,” remarked the MP.
“We urge the constitutional council to perform its duties regardless of pressure it may come under,” demanded Kanaan.
“We, along with the civil society, must protect the council in order to change what has been imposed on the Lebanese people in complete disregard to their will,” he said.
Furthermore, he criticized officials who are fearful of vacuum in the presidency and parliament, saying that the extension of parliament's term will not solve problems.
“Vacuum can only be filled through turning to the people and holding the elections,” he stressed.
“Polls will introduce a new reality in Lebanon,” he stated.
Last week, 95 lawmakers out of 128 voted to extend their term in office until 2017 in a move that was met with huge popular dismay.
The extension session was boycotted by Aoun's lawmakers and the Kataeb party, which is affiliated with the March 14 alliance.
The lawmakers who voted in favor of the draft-law claimed they needed to extend their own term because the security situation is too dire to allow holding elections amid Syria's civil war and in order to avoid a power vacuum.
Commenting on the presidential elections, Kanaan said: “The election of a president is more than a pressing issue.”
He repeated the proposal of FPM chief MP Michel Aoun to amend the constitution in order to allow for the election of a president through the people.
“We seek the election, not the appointment, of a president,” he declared.
In June, Aoun proposed a constitutional amendment that would allow the people to elect their head of state.
His proposal lies in allowing only Christians to vote for their candidates in the first round.
The system then allows the polls to be held at the level of the entire nation to pave the way for both Muslims and Christians to choose the two candidates who received the majority of votes in the first round.
Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Michel Suleiman ended.
Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the elections.
M.T.
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