Constitutional Council basis of electoral process
Speaker Nabih Berri said Tuesday that the Constitutional Council was the "basis of the electoral process" and called for its establishment before the parliamentary polls in June.
The speaker made the remarks after a visit to President Michel Sleiman, with whom he discussed latest political developments. Addressing reporters following the meeting, Berri said electoral money was being widely used and was considered a violation of the electoral law.
"However," the speaker added, "related complaints can only be submitted to the Constitutional Council; hence the Council is the basis of the electoral process."
The Taif Accord, which put an end to the 1975-90 Civil War, called for the establishment of a Constitutional Council to "interpret the Constitution, observe the constitutionality of laws, and settle disputes and contests emanating from presidential and parliamentary elections." The current council”s term ended in 2005, and since then efforts have failed to form a new council.
Asked about the national budget, Berri said it should have been adopted more than two months ago, "after my meeting with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora under the patronage of the president." He added that stalling was hampering the adoption of the budget.
The 2009 national budget is yet to be adopted due to a disagreement between Berri and Siniora over the Council of the South. Berri had asked for LL60 billion for the council, a demand that was turned down by Siniora, who insists on allocating no more than LL 40 billion. Sleiman tried to mediate an end to the standoff, but without tangible results so far.
"According to the Constitution, the government cannot abolish an institution by canceling its budget or by hampering its authorities," Berri said.
"The national budget, and first of all the Council of the South”s budget, should be adopted by the Cabinet," he added.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry called on the different political parties, candidates and media outlets to comply with the electoral law. In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry”s election supervision committee warned against the escalation of political rhetoric among politicians and the media. It also said media outlets were prohibited from "supporting or campaigning for any candidate or electoral list." The committee also warned against committing libel and slander against any candidate or electoral list.