In a statement to Al-Jumhuriya, the Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Ahmed Al-Hajjar, confirmed that the controversy surrounding the parliamentary elections had been resolved, and insisted that “the elections will take place on time, regardless of the noise taking place,” stressing that the state has no alternative but to organize them within the constitutional time frame. He asked: “Do we have a choice not to conduct it? Certainly not… On May 21, the term of the current House of Representatives ends, so shall we enter the vacuum and watch?”
Al-Hajjar explained that the Ministry of Interior began activating the articles that can be applied in accordance with the law and the constitution, noting that laws, according to jurisprudence, are divisible, “so what can be applied is applied and what is impossible is not applied.” He stated that he had opened the door for nominations and developed an “alternative plan” in anticipation of any emergency, and sent a consultation to the Legislation and Consultation Authority, awaiting its non-binding legal opinion, warning that any failure to adhere to the deadlines would make him responsible for disrupting the elections. He added: “I will hold the elections on time and I am ready to adhere to all deadlines and procedures.”
Regarding the magnetic card, he explained that there was previous consultation that considered it unnecessary to obstruct the elections if its application was difficult from a technical standpoint. As for District 16, he explained that it requires implementing decrees and the approval of a two-thirds majority in the government, which referred the matter to the House of Representatives, asking: “What do we do?” He stated that he had opened the door for nominations for 128 representatives, and was awaiting consultation to make a decision regarding the representatives of District 16, asking clearly: “Are they elected from abroad for the 128 or from inside Lebanon?” He concluded by saying: “Nothing prevents holding the elections, and 4 million and 100 thousand voters cannot be deprived of their rights… Away from all the noise and political rhetoric, we will hold the elections on time.”
