President Aoun Sends Four Laws Back to Parliament Requesting Reconsideration

President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun sent four laws that the Parliament had approved in its last session back to the Parliament, requesting reconsideration, pursuant to decrees numbered 3594, 3595, 3596, and 3597 issued on August 7, 2026, including the legal and constitutional reasons for this move.

The returned laws include the law establishing an Information Technology Directorate within the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, where President Aoun expressed remarks regarding the conduct of a restricted competition for an information technology position, stating that this exception requires clear conditions justifying it, particularly concerning the required experience duration for the relevant contract employees.

President Aoun also returned the law concerning the re-employment of members and officers from the Customs Police who were dismissed from service for non-disciplinary reasons, citing observations related to conditions for re-employment, legal age requirements, and powers granted to the Supreme Council of Customs.

The Presidency of the Republic also requested reconsideration of amendments to the Consumer Protection Law, noting concerns regarding the permanent appointment of contract employees in administrative staff, allocation of portions of collected fines and proceeds from public auctions to certain entities and officials, as well as several points related to principles of equality, separation of powers, and public finance.

The fourth law, relating to aquatic fishing and aquaculture, was returned due to remarks about allocating a portion of fine revenues and public auction proceeds to employees of the Fisheries and Hunting Department, arguing that this may conflict with principles of public finance and equality among public sector employees.

The issuing decrees emphasized that the request for reconsideration is based on constitutional and legal considerations aimed at ensuring legislative alignment with general state principles before resubmitting the laws to the Parliament for further review.