Lebanon’s parliament was to vote Friday to extend its mandate by 17 months after failing to adopt a new election law.

Lebanon's parliament voted Friday to extend its mandate by 17 months after failing to adopt a new election law.

The motion, submitted by MP Nicolas Fattouche, won 97 votes in the 128-member house with almost all parliamentary groups having voiced their support.

"The term of the mandate of the legislature will be modified on an exceptional basis to end on November 20, 2014," rather than this June 20 as scheduled, it read.

The motion to extend the normal four-year term was due to "the security situation in several Lebanese regions that gives rise to political escalation and division which often take on confessional forms."

"Security and political tensions prevent the holding of an election campaign," it said.

Following the 10-minute session, care-taker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated that “there was unanimity over extension,” expressing hope that it will lead to more stability in the country.

MP Sami Gemayel tweeted after the session that the deputies have welcomed his proposal regarding the MPs’ salaries.

“Parliament approves my proposal to not pay MPs during extension period,” he tweeted.

For his part MP Sleiman Franjieh stressed that extending MPs’ mandate has nothing to do with the President’s term.

“We extended parliament’s mandate but we will not extend president's term,” he said.

Lebanese lawmakers were debating for months a new electoral law to be adopted for the next Parliamentary elections; yet, they failed to reach a consensus regarding the matter.