Weygand Street, in downtown Beirut. (Credit: Philippe Hage Boutros)
Thirteen lawmakers, representing various political backgrounds, filed an appeal on Monday before the Constitutional Council (CC) against the law on commercial leases, which was published in the Official Gazette on June 12, following numerous twists and turns.
The reasons for the appeal include the violation of the Constitution's preamble (particularly regarding the right to property, primarily commercial), infringement on the principles of legal security, and the compromise of economic stability, Maya Geara, a lawyer for the Association of Former Tenants, explains to L'Orient-Le Jour.
The signatory lawmakers are Ali Khreis, Ghazi Zeaiter, Qassem Hashem (Amal), Hussein Hajj Hassan, Hassan Ezzeddine, Melhem al-Houjeiri (Hezbollah), Hagop Terzian (Tachnag), Oussama Saad and Achraf Rifi (independents), Sajih Atieh, Mohammad Salman, Walid Baarini and Ahmad Rustom (National Moderation).
The law on commercial leases pertains to rents for stores, offices, factories, and other commercial properties contracted before 1992. It provides for their gradual liberalization over a maximum period of four years from the date of its entry into force. After a prolonged freeze on these rents, which became insignificant due to inflation and monetary devaluation, the landlords concerned are welcoming the change. At the same time, their tenants sharply criticize it, arguing that the rent increase poses a threat to their economic survival.
The text was already published for the first time on April 3, before being deemed "inapplicable" by the Constitutional Council on May 20, following a challenge filed on April 17 by President Joseph Aoun, who contested the non-compliance of its promulgation with constitutional rules.
Adopted by Parliament in December 2023, while the country was in presidential vacancy (October 2022-January 2025), this law indeed followed a complex path: It was approved by the Parliament at the time, chaired by former Prime Minister Najib Mikati, before he refused to sign and publish it in the Official Gazette a few days later, sending it back to Parliament for further review. He justified his decision by citing his concern for sparing hundreds of educational institutions that were unable to bear the new rents.
