Activists Demonstrate, Ask Judiciary for 'Historic Stance' against Parliament Term Extension

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  • W460
  • W460
  • W460

Hundreds of civil society activists marched through Beirut on Thursday to warn against another extension of the parliament's tenure, saying the judiciary will be responsible before history should it approve of such a step.

The demonstrators marched from outside the interior ministry building in Sanayeh towards the Riad al-Solh Square which neighbors the parliament headquarters in downtown Beirut.

“Your presence in power in vacuum itself and the second extension that you are preparing for yourselves will kill democracy in Lebanon,” a spokesman for the Civil Movement for Accountability said after the demo reached the square.

On August 12, MP Nicolas Fattoush submitted a draft law to the parliament general secretariat, asking for a 31-month extension of parliament's term and explaining why he believes such a move is necessary.

In May 2013, the parliament extended its own term for a period of 17 months and set November 16, 2014 as a date for parliamentary polls. But most political forces appear to be in favor of another extension at the moment under the excuse of the troubled security situation.

“Any MP extending their own term would be adding another black point of shame” to his record, the activist leader added at the rally.

Addressing parliament, the protester added: “If you have failed to provide security, you should return to the people so that they decide whom they want to be in charge of their security.”

He called on the judiciary to make a “historic stance,” describing judges as the “security valve” of the country.

An appeal challenging the legality of the previous extension was filed before the Constitutional Council but political pressures prompted some judges to boycott the ruling session and deprive it of quorum.

Y.R.

S.D.B.

Comments 2
Missing helicopter 29 August 2014, 03:57

The few, the literate, the patriots ....... These few hundreds demonstrating in a civil manner in support of the constitution should be the role model to all Lebanese.

Default-user-icon Lavisson Shimlanko (Guest) 29 August 2014, 12:31

Activists, more tomatoes for the "judiciary" than everybody else please.