November 12, 2026
The lack of a quorum during the legislative session of the House of Representatives led to the adjournment of the session before completing its agenda, preventing the approval of a number of vital items, most notably a duplicate expedited law proposal aimed at fairness to holders of free applications and foreign curricula. This obstruction sparked a widespread wave of dissatisfaction and massive parliamentary anger.
In this context, Representative Paula Yacoubian launched a sharp attack, on the evening of Thursday, November 12, 2026, through a post on the “X” platform, in which she targeted the absent MPs and those leaving the hall, considering that their behavior reflects “a disregard for the lives of citizens and the rights of citizens.” She wrote: “What a shame on the representatives who do not attend when there is a public body that means legislation! And shame on the representatives who leave the session and become a quorum, and I am not separated from them by any life issues or rights holders,” concluding her post with the phrase: “The quorum flew and the quorum lived.” In an additional response, Yacoubian denounced this inaction, asking: “It is not allowed. There should be a session every 3 months. What do they have?”
Yacoubian’s position came in response to a similar dissatisfaction expressed by Representative Edkar Trabelsi, who expressed his regret at the quorum being omitted at the moment of discussing the proposal for a law to treat freelancers and foreign curriculum holders. Despite the obstruction, Trabelsi confirmed that the proposal will continue its legislative path, as it will be referred to the Parliamentary Education Committee in preparation for re-presenting it before the General Assembly in a later session.
This debate re-highlights the crisis of representatives’ commitment to attending legislative sessions, and the repercussions of disrupting parliamentary institutions on citizens’ interests and pressing issues.
