Public Actions

The Council of Ministers approved postponing municipal elections, citing “lack of material and human preparedness,” and referred a proposal to Parliament to postpone them until May 31, 2023.

أقرّ مجلس الوزراء تأجيل الانتخابات البلدية بحجّة «عدم الجهوزية المادية والبشرية» وأحال إلى مجلس النواب اقتراح تأجيلها إلى 31 أيّار 2023.

In a statement Friday, 22 civil society associations denounced “the postponement of municipal elections, this legal, constitutional and democratic right that the Lebanese await every six years.” According to the associations’ statement, the reasons for the postponement are “linked to more complex political and partisan interests on the part of political groups. Municipal elections are generally taking place in small towns, making it difficult for political forces to cheat…” The statement said that “the state, both legislative and executive branches, is fully responsible for any postponement of municipal elections,” since “there is still an opportunity to overcome all problems and obstacles and to hold municipal elections on time, if there is political will to do so.” The 22 signatories included the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections, Transparency International, the Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union, Maharat Association, and The Legal Agenda.