Reports: Qahwaji's Term Extension on Agenda of Upcoming Parliamentary Session

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Parliament's bureau will on Wednesday set the agenda for a parliamentary session that is scheduled to vote on the extension of army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji's mandate, media reports have said.

LBCI TV said the session will be held in early July.

President Michel Suleiman has said he was seeking to call for an extraordinary parliamentary session to revive discussions on a new electoral law.

The parliament extended its tenure during a session it held on May 31 – the last day of its ordinary session - after the failure of the rival parties to agree on a new vote law. The extension law became valid on June 20.

Parliament convenes twice a year in two ordinary sessions -- the first starts mid-march until the end of May and the second from the middle of October through the end of December.

Article 33 of the constitution states that the president in agreement with the prime minister may summon the parliament to extraordinary sessions by a decree that specifies the dates of the opening and closing of the sessions as well as the agenda.

An Nahar said that Speaker Nabih Berri, al-Mustaqbal movement chief Saad Hariri and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat have given their consent to the extension of Qahwaji's term which ends this September when he turns 60 – the maximum age for the post of the army commander.

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun has opposed it and on Tuesday criticized al-Mustaqbal for seeking an extension.

Aoun said that since the post was reserved for the Maronite sect, then Christians had the priority before Hariri to give their opinion on it.

But Hariri snapped back, saying the army was not owned by one sect.

Comments 8
Thumb primesuspect 26 June 2013, 09:04

An expired parliament.... can't and shouldn't make such decisions.... nor this also expired shabi7a friendly gov.

Thumb dasphinx 26 June 2013, 10:09

Aoun is so blunt about trying to appoint his son-in-law as an army commander. Another Bassil!!! No way.

Missing trigger 26 June 2013, 10:27

true.

Thumb dasphinx 26 June 2013, 11:14

Aoun has more right to appoint the Syrian army commander than he does the Lebanese commander, he who left his soldiers to die while he ran away, he who shuts up when Hezbollah kills Lebanese soldiers and transforms into a patriot when someone else does. He is a hypocrite, just like you.

Default-user-icon FlameCatcher (Guest) 26 June 2013, 12:28

Enough with your lies FT. Samer Hanna ? Mar Elias ? but of course, u don't remember...

The Army disgrace Aoun (how dare you call him General) attacked Samer Hanna instead of Hezbollah and put the blame on him.

Aoun and Hezbollah dope you day in and day out with their propaganda and you vomit it all over the place.

Stop spreading lies and research whatever you say before throwing stupid accusations and irrelevant arguments.

If you want to defend Aoun / Hezbollah, do it with plain logic. Something i'm not sure you're up for the task. If you are up for the task, you will quickly hit a brick wall because nothing can be said to defend them.

Thumb LebDinosaur 26 June 2013, 10:27

That Aoun is so backwards with that statement. The army is for everyone & for no one in particular.

Thumb Lebanon4life 26 June 2013, 14:37

this is not okay !!

Default-user-icon JC Williams (Guest) 26 June 2013, 16:42

When did Harai return to Lebanon. What business it is of his?