A decision by President Michel Suleiman to sign a decree that calls for parliamentary elections on June 9 was an administrative and not a political move, Baabda palace sources said Tuesday. Suleiman signed the decree on Monday along with Prime Minister Najib Miqati, drawing the ire of the March 8 majority coalition over fears that the 1960 law that governed the polls in 2009 would be adopted in this year's elections amid lack of agreement in parliament on a new electoral draft-law.

But the presidential sources stressed to An Nahar newspaper that Suleiman “made an administrative and legal and not a political move” in signing the decree to avoid accusations that the government breached the constitution. [Link]