Maronite Bishops Council Rejects Extension of Parliament's Term

The Maronite bishops council reiterated on Monday the need for political powers to reach an agreement over a new parliamentary electoral law.

They said in a statement after their monthly meeting: “We reject the extension of parliament's mandate without an agreement over a new vote.”

“The new law must offer fair representation for all sides,” the gatherers said after the meeting headed by Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

Moreover, they called on powers to reach an agreement over the formation of a new government, while condemning the heated political rhetoric issued by various factions.

“We call on all parties to end their rhetoric of treason, which will only rekindle old grudges and wounds,” they declared.

The recent developments and security tensions require all sides to adhere to the Baabda Declaration and seek Lebanon's national interests, stressed the Maronite bishops.

Political factions have so far failed to reach an agreement over an electoral law, which is threatening to postpone the polls that are set for June 16 and which is also threatening to extend the term of the current parliament.

Bkirki sources told MTV and LBCI that al-Rahi and caretaker Premier Najib Miqati had agreed after holding talks on Monday to a short-term technical extension to pave way for the agreement on a new law.

Miqati's visit to the seat of the Maronite church came after Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun held separate talks with al-Rahi over the weekend amid a row on the extension of the mandate and the rejection of the 1960 vote law.