Following Parliament’s vote to lift the immunity of MP Georges Bouchikian, MP Elias Hankach renewed his call to abolish the Supreme Council for the Trial of Presidents and Ministers, criticizing it as a paralyzed and ineffective mechanism that hinders accountability.

In a post on his X account, Hankach said he fully supports lifting immunity off all ministers and lawmakers, stressing the need for equality before the law.

“Today from Parliament: I support lifting all immunities from all ministers and MPs,” he wrote.

Hankach recalled that seven years ago, after being elected as a member of the Supreme Council, he had launched an initiative to abolish it by gathering ten signatures in support of a constitutional amendment.

“This initiative stemmed from my conviction that we are all equal and should stand before the ordinary judiciary, except in cases of high treason involving the President of the Republic,” he added.

The Supreme Council, a constitutionally mandated body intended to prosecute top officials, has faced growing criticism from reform-minded lawmakers who view it as a shield protecting political elites from accountability. Despite its existence, the Council has never successfully tried a single minister or president since Lebanon’s independence.

“The Supreme Council still exists, but its mechanisms are obstructed and overly complicated,” Hankach said. “That’s why I will renew my efforts to abolish it.”