October 6, 2026
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Elias Bou Saab, announced, following the meeting of the subcommittee emanating from the joint parliamentary committees, that an agreement had been reached to collect all projects and proposals related to amending the current election law in preparation for studying them and determining the course of action before the next session. He stressed that the resumption of committee meetings comes within the framework of purely parliamentary duties, far from any external or internal pressure or contacts.
In his response to the campaigns that preceded the meeting, Bou Saab denounced the resort of some to personalization and accusing him and his family of working to pass laws that serve the Assad regime, considering that these methods no longer work, and that representatives cannot be put under pressure simply for carrying out their duties. He explained that the invitation was sent based on the Council’s internal regulations and on the agenda voted on previously by the joint committees.
Bou Saab pointed out that the work of the committee had been suspended in October 2025 based on the desire of Representative George Adwan, prior to the parliamentary elections, due to the lack of time. He pointed out that he faces blame if he did not invite the committee to discuss the laws on its agenda, especially since the proposed proposals were presented by various blocs and representatives, such as the “Lebanese Forces,” the “Phalange,” and Representatives Niamat Avram and Melhem Khalaf, wondering whether they were seeking to revive the laws of the Assad regime.
Regarding the timing of the meeting, Bou Saab stressed that the step represents an assumption of responsibility and is not a response to any external directives. In response to the demands to shorten the parliamentary term instead of extending it, he explained that shortening the term is possible whenever circumstances exist, but he stressed the inevitability of having a sound law on the basis of which elections are held to address the loopholes in the current law. He also touched on the existence of proposals in line with the implementation of the Taif Agreement and the establishment of the Senate, stressing the right of representatives to discuss their laws within priorities agreed upon by the committee.
Bou Saab described the atmosphere of the meeting as positive and democratic, stressing openness to all proposals and the absence of any conspiracies or prior dictates. He stated that the discussion will continue with an open mind to avoid negligence, with some representatives tending to focus first on amending the current law so that it is ready, then moving on to other issues later, with full respect for the representatives’ right to discuss their various proposals.
Bou Saab concluded by stressing that before the second session, projects and proposals to amend the current law will be harmonized and collected, in addition to communicating with those who proposed the establishment of the Senate to unify them, in addition to organizing the process of discussing other proposals such as the individual district and the Orthodox law, reiterating the emphasis on sending a new invitation to the subcommittee to complete the work without any rush or pressure.
