Lebanese Parliament secures majority in favor of extension

BEIRUT: The majority of lawmakers, including MPs from the Kataeb Party and the Lebanese Forces, are expected to vote in favor of an extension of Parliament's mandate in a legislative session set for Wednesday, political sources told The Daily Star.

The Kataeb Party and the Lebanese Forces, which have previously rejected the extension of Parliament's mandate, are expected to vote in favor of an extension, political sources told The Daily Star Thursday.

The decision would fall in line with the Future bloc's stance over a renewed mandate.

The Future Movement, the largest bloc in Parliament, has repeatedly rejected the idea of holding parliamentary elections before the presidential vote.

Meanwhile, the March 8 coalition is expected to reject the extension of parliament’s mandate.

The issue over the extension of Parliament's mandate is expected to be raised during a rare parliamentary legislative session set to convene next Wednesday, according to the political sources.

Parliament's Secretariat General is set to convene Monday to agree on an agenda for the session. Sources confirmed that the controversial salary scale would be the first item on the agenda. The issuance of new eurobonds and the payment of public sector wages will also top the agenda.

According to the mechanism that would be followed during the proposed legislative session, once the Parliament’s lawmakers have finished debating draft laws on the agenda, Zahle MP Nicolas Fattoush will ask House Speaker Nabih Berri to present to the General Assembly an urgent draft proposal he submitted that calls for the renewal of Parliament’s term, the sources said.

Berri, according to Parliament’s bylaws, would present the draft proposal for debate and approval, with the possibility of amending the extension period proposed by Fattoush.

Last month, Fattoush presented a draft proposal to Parliament’s Secretariat General for the extension of the legislative body’s mandate for two years and seven months, arguing that the move was aimed at protecting civil peace.

Any session held to extend Parliament’s term would not require a two-thirds majority, and the extension can be passed with a majority of the lawmakers who secure a quorum plus one, the sources said.

During a legislative session in May last year, Parliament approved the extension of Parliament’s term by 17 months.