Against a backdrop of nationwide power outages and disabled generators, Lebanon’s Parliament convened on Tuesday for what turned out to be a landmark session. In a rare and politically charged move, lawmakers voted to lift the parliamentary immunity of MP and former Industry Minister George Bouchikian, marking the first such decision in over a quarter-century.

What made the move even more striking was the oppressive heat and lack of lighting in the chamber, underscoring that parliamentary oversight can still be exercised even from the heart of chaos. Ninety-nine MPs voted in favor, while one abstained and another opposed it, responding to a request by Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar. The top prosecutor is pursuing Bouchikian on allegations of embezzling public funds, accepting bribes, and financially extorting factories in exchange for granting operating licenses.

With the decision now officially ratified, Bouchikian becomes the first sitting MP to have their immunity lifted since former MP Habib Hakim.

Constitutional and judicial sources told Kataeb.org that the next phase includes summoning Bouchikian for questioning, issuing a warrant for his arrest, or referring him to an investigating judge. If Bouchikian is confirmed to be evading justice, Ia domestic arrest warrant may be issued in absentia and circulated through Interpol. However, legal experts stressed that revoking his parliamentary seat would only be possible after a final judicial ruling is issued.

Alongside this rare development, the parliament session also featured testimony from former telecommunications ministers Boutros Harb, Nicolas Sehnaoui, and Jamal Jarrah regarding alleged misconduct in Lebanon’s telecom sector. The process, blending oversight and judicial inquiry, has stirred controversy over jurisdiction and procedural legality.

During the debate, Kataeb Party leader, MP Samy Gemayel,, delivered one of the most forceful interventions of the day. He called for the abolition of the Supreme Council for the Trial of Presidents and Ministers, urging instead that all corruption cases be referred to the regular judiciary. He argued that justice should be carried out through established legal channels, not through special tribunals.

Speaking to Kataeb.org, constitutional expert Saeed Malik explained that while Gemayel’s demand aligns with democratic principles, it faces formidable legal obstacles, as the Supreme Council is enshrined in the Lebanese Constitution.

“Abolishing it would require a constitutional amendment; a process that demands a high parliamentary majority that is unlikely to be met under current conditions,” Malik said, emphasizing that Gemayel’s position targets not individuals, but rather the exceptional legal mechanisms that obstruct justice rather than serve it.

Some lawmakers welcomed the immunity vote as a sign that Parliament is reclaiming its long-dormant oversight function. But many remain cautious, warning that unless this move translates into tangible legal outcomes, it risks becoming yet another hollow gesture in a system plagued by inertia and political protection.

The real question now: Is this the beginning of genuine accountability in Lebanon, or just another flicker of light swallowed by deep-rooted political darkness?