Beirut: Kataeb Party leader MP Samy Gemayel has submitted an urgent draft law seeking to suspend all legal, judicial, and contractual deadlines from March 1, 2026, until the end of the current state of force majeure affecting the country. The proposal aims to protect the rights of both the State and individuals and prevent harm to litigants and rights holders arising from the extraordinary circumstances that have hindered the exercise of legal rights within prescribed timelines.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the draft law proposes to suspend all legal and judicial deadlines before Lebanese courts, as well as administrative, civil, and commercial deadlines. This suspension includes deadlines related to the convening of general assemblies for unions, associations, cooperatives, and companies. Certain exceptions are outlined, with the suspended deadlines set to resume immediately once the Council of Ministers declares the force majeure over.
Key provisions of the draft law include the suspension of all legal, contractual, and judicial deadlines, whether procedural, administrative, or substantive, starting March 1, 2026, until the extraordinary circumstances cease. This encompasses judicial deadlines in civil, administrative, and commercial matters, as well as deadlines for convening general assemblies and boards of directors for all types of companies.
Deadlines for personal claimants, defendants, or convicts to file formal motions, appeals, or challenge final decisions in criminal matters are also suspended. This applies to the civilly responsible party and guarantors regarding decisions subject to appeal. However, exemptions exist for deadlines left to judicial discretion, administrative deadlines where the administration retains suspension authority, statutes of limitation and criminal release deadlines, family law deadlines including alimony and custody, and deadlines stipulated in lease laws.
Syndicates, cooperatives, associations, and companies are to continue their operations and maintain their current boards in office, with all legal acts performed remaining valid under existing laws. Parties may explicitly and irrevocably waive the suspension effect in contracts or agreements. Additionally, any final judgment that did not account for this suspension may be subject to retrial from the law's effective date. The law would enter into force immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette.