The members of parliament during the general policy debate in Parliament on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (Credit: Hussein Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament website)
BEIRUT — Parliament on Tuesday renewed the membership of its bureau and parliamentary committees, with all five bureau positions filled unopposed and only minor changes made to committee membership, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported, as Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan submitted a bill proposing to shorten Parliament’s mandate.
The session, chaired by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, began at 11 a.m. and ended after around 15 minutes. MPs re-elected Alain Aoun and Hadi Abu al-Hosn as parliamentary secretaries, while Michel Moussa, Hagop Pakradounian, and Abdel Karim Kabbara were re-elected as the three parliamentary commissioners, according to NNA.
Parliament also renewed the membership of its committees, including their chairpersons and rapporteurs, with four changes to committee membership.
MP Halima Kaakour replaced MP Ibrahim Kanaan on the Administration and Justice Committee, Akram Chehayeb replaced Hadi Abou al-Hosn on the Agriculture and Tourism Committee, Bilal Hashemi replaced Ibrahim Moussawi on the Human Rights Committee, and Najat Aoun replaced Ashraf Baydoun on the Information Technology Committee.
Adwan calls for shorter parliamentary mandate
Separately, Adwan submitted a bill on behalf of the Lebanese Forces parliamentary bloc to shorten Parliament’s mandate, saying that "Lebanon urgently needed a renewal of its political leadership and new elections."
Speaking at Parliament, Adwan said "lawmakers had previously extended their own mandate," adding that his bloc had hoped the extension would be brief but considered the period ultimately approved to be too long. He said current indicators suggested that conditions were unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, leaving the duration of the extension uncertain.
He said the proposal was intended to ensure the rotation of power and allow voters to decide on key national questions, including weapons, restoring the state’s authority and ending what he described as "lawlessness."
Before the committee elections began, MP Imad al-Hout requested to speak on a point of order, raising the issue of a meeting of Sunni MPs. Berri ruled that the matter did not fall under parliamentary procedure.
MP Paula Yacoubian called for a legislative session to address several issues, including free-demand requests, the rent law and other matters affecting citizens.
The rent law is a longstanding source of debate in Lebanon, particularly over the relationship between landlords and tenants and the gradual adjustment of rents for older leases. Disputes over its implementation have raised concerns about housing affordability and the rights of both property owners and tenants.
Kaakour raised concerns over MPs’ absences from committee meetings, while MP Waddah Sadek called for attendance to be better regulated and for committee meetings to be made public.
Parliamentary committees examine proposed legislation and oversee policy in their respective areas before measures proceed through the legislative process. Attendance and transparency can therefore affect how effectively they carry out their work and scrutinize government action.
Following the remarks, Parliament proceeded with the election of committee members, chairpersons and rapporteurs across its standing committees.
