Lack of Quorum Delays Decision on Parliament Extension

Local Editor

The Constitutional Council did not meet a quorum of members for a second consecutive day Wednesday, delaying a decision on the legality of Parliament's mandate extension.

The council's meeting was rescheduled for June 18, two days before Parliament's term expires.

On Tuesday, there were also not enough members present for the 10-member council to rule on petitions challenging the extension of Parliament's mandate.
The council's members have not shown up for the scheduled council sessions.
Failure to convene the Constitutional Council meeting boosts the extension's chances of being upheld.

After the delay was announced, a small crowd protested the extension of Parliament's mandate outside the Constitutional Council in Hadath, east Beirut, throwing tomatoes at a banner depicting Lebanese MPs.

Lawmakers decided earlier in June to delay elections and extend Parliament's mandate 17 months due to disagreement over a new electoral law and tensions from the Syrian conflict.

President Michel Suleiman and Change and Reform Bloc MPs submitted petitions challenging the extension of Parliament's term.
The council has a deadline until June 20 to issue its decision over the petitions, the date when Parliament's mandate expires.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team