MP Sami Gemayel proposes electronic voting in the parliament

Phalange party MP Sami Gemayel submitted on Monday a draft law to allow electronic voting in the parliament, a statement issued by his office said.
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Lebanon Parliament to hold extraordinary sessions

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told As Safir newspaper that he will call on holding a parliamentary session starting August 1
A decree was issued on Monday allowing the parliament to hold the extraordinary sessions (more…)

MP Houri calls for new elections

“We are either a state that respects international legitimacy or not. We will not allow the transformation of Lebanon from a respected democratic state to a rogue state.” March 14 MP Ammar Houri said (more…)

Berri postpones parliament session to June 15

As was expected Speaker Nabih Berri failed in his efforts to hold a parliamentary session on Wednesday due to lack of quorum and postponed it to June 15 .

Only 58 MPs attended the session . For the quorum to be met at least 65 MPs should attend ( half the 128 member parliament plus one ). (more…)

Siniora : Berri’s parliament session violates the constitution

Former Lebanese PM and current Future bloc leader MP Fouad Siniora said on Sunday that the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition is attempting to “make parliament take over the role of the cabinet,” adding that “such moves violate the constitution.”

“The work of the executive branch (cabinet ) and legislative branch [parliament] should be completely separate,” Siniora was quoted by National News Agency as saying. (more…)

Tension up as second Iranian flotilla to Bahrain is blocked

Iranian supporters of Shiite dissidents in Bahrain saw their second flotilla in less than a month turned back from the Persian Gulf kingdom Monday.

The 120 people aboard the two-ship “flotilla of solidarity” included a mix of workers, athletes, lawmakers, physicians and nurses, according to the semi-official Iranian Mehr News Agency. (more…)

Bahrain parliament accepts resignation of Shiite ministers

Bahrain’s House of Representatives on Tuesday accepted the resignation of the opposition Members of the Parliament (MEPs), the state-run BNA news agency reported. (more…)

Jumblatt: Sectarian politics prevented lowering of voting age

Democratic Gathering bloc leader MP Walid Jumblatt told Al-Manar television on Monday that sectarian considerations led to the failure to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 in the parliament earlier in the day.

Sixty-six out of the 100 MPs who attended Monday’s parliamentary session abstained from voting on Article 21 of the constitution, which pertains to the legal voting age.

Jumblatt also said that the Democratic Gathering bloc decided to respect its diversity and allow its members to vote on the issue as they please.

The bloc members who are part of the Progressive Socialist Party voted with lowering the voting age, whereas the independent members abstained. (Now Lebanon)

Be beautiful and vote

A Lebanese activist holds a banner during a demonstration asking to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 near the Lebanese Parliament in Beirut February 22, 2010. Lebanese MPs voted against a proposal to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 during a parliamentary session held on Monday. The banner reads, “Be beautiful and vote. I am 18 years old, can i vote?” REUTERS/ Cynthia Karam

Ministerial meeting Wednesday to adopt the policy statement

Al Manar: The special ministerial meeting for adopting the ministerial policy statement will be held at the Baabda palace on Wednesday. Speaker Nabih Berri is preparing for a parliament session for the vote of confidence