Rania Chakhtoura, "Akhbar al-Yawm" agency
Malek to "Akhbar Al-Yawm": technical extension for a month no more
The mandate of the municipal and mayoral councils expires on May 31, and the Constitutional Council's final decision on the appeal of the extension law-issued by the House of Representatives published in the official gazette on 26/4/2023 - is likely to be issued simultaneously with the expiration date of the mandate or no later than June 2.
What will be the fate of municipalities or mayors, and therefore the transactions signed by them, if the extension law is invalidated?
Constitutional expert Saeed Malek, via "Akhbar al-Yawm" agency, explains that it will be determined whether the Constitutional Council will take its decision on the subject of the appeal negatively or positively coinciding with the end of the mandate, in case the decision goes to the review or appeal, the municipalities are considered to continue their functions in accordance with the extension law issued by the House of Representatives on April 19 last, or if the appeal is accepted, the municipal and mayoral councils are considered expired by the end of this month.
He adds: however, municipalities and mayors can, at the request or circular from the Ministry of interior or from the government, continue their work, provided that a law legalizing these actions will be issued later with retroactive effect.
Thus, Malek says: today there is no danger on the subject of the work of municipalities and mayors within the framework of continuity.
As for the date of the elections, Malek points out that if the decision is issued to accept the appeal and the extension law is considered contrary to the Constitution, the government must submit an urgent bill to the House of Representatives for a technical extension for a period of no more than a month, so that the government can accomplish this entitlement at the earliest possible opportunity pursuant to the decision of the Constitutional Council, whose decision will be binding on all authorities and is concluded and not amenable to any method of Appeal.