President Michel Suleiman is expected to challenge parliament’s decision to extend its mandate for 17 months, reported the daily An Nahar Saturday.He believes that Friday’s extension contradicts several constitutional articles, adding that the reasons for it are “not convincing and they do not justify the failure to stage the parliamentary elections,” it said.He told the daily that he is seeking a “technical extension” of its term in a period that would be long enough to hold the elections.

The president will submit his appeal to the Constitutional Council as soon as the decision to extend the mandate is made official through its publication in Lebanese dailies, which will take place on Monday at the latest, explained An Nahar.Suleiman said that his upcoming step stems from his initial position that opposes the non-technical extension of parliament’s term.

 

(Link)