The parliament decision to extend its mandate till November 2014 was officially published in the Lebanese Gazette, yet the president Michel Sleiman and the Free Patriotic Movement are preparing to challenge this decision.

The parliament decision to extend its mandate till November 2014 was officially published in the Lebanese Gazette, yet the president Michel Sleiman and the Free Patriotic Movement are preparing to challenge this decision.

Most of the parliamentary blocs have voted for the extension law, except the Free Patriotic Movement headed by MP Michel Aoun that refused it and considered it as unconstitutional.

The parliament justified its decision by referring to the exacerbating security conditions in Lebanon due to the Syrian crisis that has affected the Lebanese security since its beginning.

The Lebanese lawmakers further have not been able to reach an agreement on an electoral law in order to carry out the elections on June 20. The rival blocs submitted different draft laws without concluding a consensual one.

Challenges

President Michel Sleiman decided to challenge the law which he rated as unconstitutional. He also considered that the reasons for such an extension are "not solid."

Lebanese dailies mentioned that President Sleiman is trying to reach a technical extension for a period that would be sufficient to hold the elections.
Sleiman will submit his appeal soon to the Constitutional Council for the latter to be able to take a decision before the end of the current parliamentary mandate on June 20.

The Free Patriotic Movement is supposed also to challenge the extension law as the caretaker Labor Minister Salim Jreissati prepared the appeal that was signed by 10 members of Change and Reform parliamentary bloc.

“The extension law does not respect the Constitution, and it was condemned by Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and President Sleiman,” said MP Michel Aoun.