16 April 2024
Electoral Reform Consortium: MPs Must Fulfill Their Role and Halt the Extension of Municipal Councils
In a scene reminiscent of the recurring scenario of extending the term of municipal and mukhtar councils in 2022 and 2023, the Parliament’s bureau is convening a meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, upon the invitation of the Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri.
The meeting comes as preparation for holding a legislative session to approve the extension of municipal councils, just weeks away from the election date, according to the electoral decrees issued by the Minister of Interior and Municipalities.
In this light, the Electoral Reform Consortium emphasizes the danger of postponing elections for the third consecutive time, especially since most municipal councils have become either paralyzed or dissolved after 8 years since the last municipal elections in 2016.
The Consortium calls on MPs from various blocs to fulfill their role and halt the extension law, and reminds them that there are solutions which can be used to hold elections, without using security conditions as a new pretext for extension.
In conclusion, the Consortium warns against reinforcing an approach that normalizes the violation of citizens’ rights and undermines constitutional and democratic entitlements, without any accountability.
The Electoral Reform Consortium:
- Lebanese Union for People with Physical Disabilities - LUPD
- Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections - LADE
- Transparency International Lebanon - No Corruption
- Maharat Foundation
