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Lebanon urged to extend parliament's mandate ahead of polls

Xinhua, April 11, 2017 Adjust font size:

Parliament member Nicolas Fattoush Tuesday proposed an urgent draft law to renew the Parliament's mandate for a year, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Fattoush, a lawmaker representing the Bekaa's Zahle district, presented a draft proposal to Parliament's Secretariat to extend the legislative body's mandate until June 2018.

The Parliament's Secretariat is expected to meet Tuesday afternoon to discuss "Parliament-related matters," a statement from Speaker Nabih Berri's press office said.

Parliamentary elections were scheduled to take place between May 21 and June 21, but deadlock over the new electoral law would lead to a delay of the polls.

The Parliament has extended its mandate twice, in 2013 and 2014, over security fears.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk have noted it's a "technical" extension of the Parliament's term, saying this was needed to finalize logistical preparations for the elections. Endit