Naharnet Newsdesk - The Constitutional Council: No Registration of IDs in Zahle, No Bribery in Metn and Jezzine MP Had Candidacy Rights

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The Constitutional Council: No Registration of IDs in Zahle, No Bribery in Metn and Jezzine MP Had Candidacy Rights

The Constitutional Council unanimously turned down 19 complaints filed after the June 7 parliamentary elections that claimed the results were fraudulent.
A Council member told As Safir that the decision not to annul any of the votes came away from political consideration despite criticism by those who have made the complaints.

Former Minister Elie Skaff, who had filed a complaint against Nicolas Fattoush, told al-Liwaa that "a political settlement was made at our expense."

Former MP Salim Aoun also criticized the Council's decision saying the body is "political more than constitutional." He had complained against MP Elie Marouni.

The Council member said those who contested the results of the polls had a "weak" proof adding that complaints filed in Zahle and by MP Michel Murr were "the most cohesive" but not to the extent of annulling the results.

Al-Liwaa daily also quoted a Council member as saying that the complaints in six electoral constituencies had no legal proof.

He said the process of registering identification papers in other constituencies, in particular Zahle, included all confessions. The complaint was that more than 1,500 people registered in Zahle in order to increase the number of voters. Sources said investigation carried out by the Constitutional Council revealed that only 404 people registered in the district through legal means.

President of the Constitutional Council Issam Suleiman revealed that there was no proof of hefty offers of cash to buy votes.

An Nahar quoted Council sources as saying that a complaint filed against MP Michel Murr for paying $200,000 to Bishop George Saliba was rejected because cash was paid before the start of electoral campaign expenses.

As for accusations of misdemeanor against MP Issam Sawaya in the Jezzine district, the Council's investigation revealed that the lawmaker wasn't indicted for any offense prior to the elections.

There were 12 complaints filed by opposition members and seven by majority MPs.

Beirut, 26 Nov 09, 08:34


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