Lebanese President Michel Aoun has sent a draft law, which envisions the holding of parliamentary elections before the scheduled time on March 27 instead of May, back to parliament for review.
On Friday, the office of the Lebanese President announced that rescheduling elections almost two months before the due time would pose logistical issues, shorten the timeframe for Lebanese expats to register, and prevent young people, who would reach the voting age of 21 by May 8, from taking part. Lebanese Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri called for a joint parliamentary committee meeting on Tuesday to further discuss these developments.
Senior Member of Parliament Alain Aoun of the Free Patriotic Movement told an international news agency that they will advocate for holding elections on May 2022 when the parliament meets.
It is unclear whether other political parties will change their minds.
“So far the majority still agrees on March 27,” Aoun told an international news agency.
On Tuesday, Lebanon’s parliament voted to hold parliamentary elections on March 27 instead of May 8. In late September, Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that officials were considering holding the polls earlier to avoid campaigning during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
