Constitutional reforms' discourse resurfaces in Lebanon due to crisis

By Ayoub Khaddaj BEIRUT, Dec 14 (KUNA) -- Discourse on constitutional reforms usually resurfaces in Lebanon with each time a crisis starts to grip the country.
The usual focus of this discourse is on the 1989 Taif Agreement, an accord that shaped the constitution and helped to put an end to the 1975-1990 civil war in Lebanon.
Various political figures, whether directly or indirectly, began to push for discussions on implementing constitutional reforms in light of the government's failure to run its operations smoothly and without hiccups.
"The Taif agreement, which came after a horrific period, is still in effect and there is no need of adjustment just an actually implementation of the document," said former MP Talal Al-Mer'abi, a member of the group, which helped shape Lebanese constitution during the Taif, Saudi Arabia, meeting on October 22, 1989.
Protestors in Lebanon are not rallying against the constitution, they are rather objecting to the huge corruption at running government, indicated the former legislator, noting that if the principals of the Taif Agreement were implemented, then sectarianism will decline and nationalistic interests will be put on the forefront.
Carrying on with constitutional reforms now is near impossible because the Taif Agreement's tenets were still in need of full execution, he argued.
Meanwhile, constitutional expert Salah Hunain said that any reforms to the constitution must be implemented during a period of full stability rather than tension.
He added that each political group is trying to take advantage of the constitution to carry out its own agenda instead of serving the need of the citizens.
Without the constitution there will be utter chaos, claimed Hunain who called on politicians to fully exercise the constitution's articles for the favor of country and people.
Providing similar input, constitutional and international law expert and Dr. Shafiq Al-Masri told KUNA that problem laid in failure to implement the constitution rather than the document itself, indicating that it was important to focus on the Taif Agreement calls for political reforms instead of calling for rectifying the constitution.
Once the door was opened for constitutional reforms, each political bloc will jump at the first chance to call for adjustment favoring their interest, a matter, which will create more headache for Lebanon, said Dr. Al-Masri.
Protestors are calling for a state implementing the rules of law and the constitution, paving the way for real reforms in the country.
The Taif Agreement came with an important article returning the executive authority from the President to the Prime Minister. (end) ayb.gta