Lahoud calls on the Lebanese government to embark on new elections law

The Lebanese President Emil Lahoud extended a message to the parliament in which he urged the parliamentarians to make parliamentary elections at their set constitutional terms under a law that can ensure the best expression for the will of the people in an attempt to settle the controversy over the elections law.

The message read that "as law no. 171 dated January 6, 2000 resulted in creating sharp political differences among people who are the source for the authorities, thereby it is necessary to extend a message to your honorable parliament so as to place this matter at its hand." Lahoud considered that the organization of the elections on May 29 on the ground of the law of 2000 will result in creating a state of political instability in the country and the emergence of discriminatory condition among regions which the said law did not hold equal in its electoral divisions.

This constitutional step constitutes an attempt by the president to pressure the speaker of the parliament Nabih Berri who supports the currently enforced law, to reject the call for convening the parliament.