Harb Says Suleiman Upset Over Madi's Request to Lift MP's Immunity
Opposition lawmaker Butros Harb revealed Thursday that President Michel Suleiman has expressed frustration over the general prosecutor's request to strip the MP of his parliamentary immunity.
In remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper, Harb said: “The president is very upset by General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi's request and informed me that he did not know that he would take such a measure.”
Suleiman was “surprised” by the move and “confirmed that he totally rejects it,” Harb added.
Harb visited Suleiman at Baabda palace on Wednesday.
Madi sent a memo to Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi on Monday requesting that the Batroun MP's immunity be lifted, so that he can be tried for offending Suleiman and the judiciary.
But Harb challenged him, saying he would file a lawsuit against the general prosecutor for trying to strike a deal with Hizbullah over a party member accused of involvement in an assassination attempt against him last year.
Harb told al-Joumhouria that he informed Suleiman about his insistence to lift his immunity “to confront Judge Madi in court.”
In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3), Qortbawi said “the judiciary should remain independent away from political differences.”
“I will study the file away from these differences,” he said after revealing that he hasn't yet read the memo over his busy schedule.
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