Aoun to Challenge Extension: They Realized 1960 Law Won't Secure Victory
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said on Friday that his political rivals “realized they will not win the polls even if the 1960's electoral law was adopted,” announcing also that he has prepared “a thorough file” to challenge the extension of the parliament's mandate.
"They do not want to hold the elections maybe because even the 1960's electoral law does not secure their victory,” Aoun stated after an exceptional meeting of the Change and Reform bloc at his residence in al-Metn's Rabieh neighborhood.
The FPM lawmakers in Aoun's bloc boycotted Friday's parliamentary session dedicated solely to discuss extending the parliament's mandate.
Around 100 MPs from all blocs, except the Change and Reform bloc, voted to extend parliament's term until November 20, 2014, in a session that lasted only 10 minutes.
The Christian leader vowed to challenge the extension before the Constitutional Council: “We have prepared a thorough file for this purpose and we hope the council does not commit a historical mistake taking into consideration the current political and security situation.”
"The extension does not respect the constitution, the compelling reasons or the norms."
“Even (Maronite) Patriarch Bashara al-Rahi and President Michel Suleiman condemned it in their speeches,” Aoun noted.
The FPM leader went on to describe the parliament as “paralyzed since the assassination of former General Security chief Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan.”
"All kinds of electoral law drafts were submitted. We have suggested dividing Lebanon into medium-sized electoral districts to improve representation but it was rejected, so was the Orthodox proposal.”
Aoun added: “We suggested a hybrid draft similar to Speaker Nabih Berri's proposal but it was also turned down.”
“They instead came up with a law designed to suit their interests,” he remarked.
Rival parties have failed to agree on an electoral law to govern the June 16 parliamentary elections and the majority of them opposed the 1960 law that was used in the 2009 polls.
The lack of consensus compelled them to agree on an extension despite differences on the duration.
The extension of the 128-seat legislature's term by up to 17 months marks the first time that parliament has had to extend its term since Lebanon's civil war ended in 1975-90.
The decision by Berri to call for a plenary session followed an agreement between most political factions that the worsening security situation has made campaigning and voting impossible, and that postponing it may ease soaring tensions.
Parliament's current term ends June 20.
Source: Naharnet
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