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Report: Only 10 MPs Signed Petition Challenging Suspension of Electoral Deadlines

Only ten lawmakers have so far signed a petition that calls for challenging the suspension of deadlines set by the 1960 electoral law, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The daily said that seven National Struggle Front MPs, deputy Speaker Farid Makari and lawmakers Ahmed Karami and Marwan Hamadeh had signed it by Tuesday.

A consultative meeting was held at Makari's office in parliament on Tuesday.

Makari told An Nahar that the March 14 and National Struggle Front MPs, who attended the meeting, discussed the petition and stressed that the country should not be left without an electoral law if the rival lawmakers failed to reach consensus on a new system that would replace the 1960 law.

“If the involved parties were able to agree on a law, no matter what it was, then we will approve it,” he said.

President Michel Suleiman signed earlier this month a draft-law suspending the deadline for submitting nominations for the polls until May 19.

The draft-law was referred to the president after it was approved by parliament.

It calls for setting the deadline for submitting candidacies to three weeks before the elections date. It also allows candidates who seek to withdraw their nominations to do so 15 days before the polls.


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