Lebanese President Suspends Parliament for One Month under Article 59
Local Editor
Lebanese President Michel Aoun used his presidential powers on Wednesday to suspend parliament's activities for one month, which consequently led to Speaker Nabih Berri's postponement of a controversial legislative session aimed at extending parliament's term.
"I have decided to suspend parliament's activities for one month in line with Article 59 of the Lebanese constitution," Aoun said in a televised address to the nation.
It is the first time ever in Lebanon's history that a Lebanese president resorts to this article, media reports said.
"Upon my election as president, I performed the oath of office, vowing loyalty to the constitution of the Lebanese nation and its laws and to preserve Lebanon's independence, unity and territorial integrity," Aoun said.
"The Document of National Accord, which has become an inseparable part of the Lebanese constitution, stipulates that the parliamentary elections should take place according to a new electoral law," he added.
The president also reminded that in his oath of office, he had vowed to "work on correcting the political representation of the Lebanese people according to the aforementioned constitutional principles."
Aoun's move follows marathon political talks led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
Media reports said the president's move was coordinated in advance with Berri and Hezbollah.
"After the president used Article 59 of the constitution which gives him the right to suspend parliament's convention for a period not exceeding one month, I once again consider that this step by the president is aimed at securing more time that can be utilized to reach an agreement on a new law," Berri said in a statement, reminding Aoun that he had always called for an electoral law based on proportional representation.
"In turn, and in line with his stance, I'm postponing tomorrow's session to May 15," Berri added.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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