Aoun: I Won't Extend Term of Parliament that Has Usurped My Rights
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun announced on Tuesday his rejection of the extension of parliament's tenure.
He said after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting: “I will not vote for the extension of the term of parliament, which is populated by lawmakers who have usurped my rights.”
“There can be no such thing as constitutionality if justice is not ensured,” he added.
“We do not need lessons from children to warn us of the dangers of extending parliament's term and of the 1960 parliamentary electoral law,” he said in a reference to Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel.
Gemayel had urged Aoun on Monday against holding the elections based on the 1960 law.
“We have no problem in extending parliament's mandate, but we have a problem in extending the term of the current lawmakers,” remarked Aoun.
The majority of the political blocs have voiced their rejection of the adoption of the amended version of the 1960 electoral law that was used in the 2009 elections.
This has not however prevented officials from submitting their candidacies to the elections based on this law in order to prevent uncontested victories.
The elections are set for June 16, but the failure to reach an agreement over a new electoral law is threatening their postponement and the extension of parliament's term.
Addressing the assault against the army in the Bekaa town of Arsal, Aoun said: “This bloodshed cannot continue without necessary measures to thwart attacks against the army.”
“We have repeatedly warned of the recurrence of such attacks,” he declared, while holding the Higher Defense Council and government responsible for the assault.
Three soldiers were killed overnight Monday in an attack on their checkpoint in the town of Wadi Hmeid in Arsal.
“A group of gunmen in a black jeep assaulted an army checkpoint and clashed with the soldiers at 3:30 a.m.,”said a communique issued by the army command.
The statement pointed out that the army is carrying out a wide search operation in the area to detain the armed men who fled to the nearby outskirts.
Two Lebanese soldiers were killed in February when members of an armed group ambushed their patrol that was in the area of Arsal to pursue a suspect wanted on terrorism charges.
Source: Naharnet
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