Report: Aoun May Sign Decree Launching Preparations for Elections

President Michel Aoun may sign a decree at the end of the parliament's term giving the green light to start preparations for Lebanon's parliamentary polls, al-Akhbar daily reported on Saturday.

Reports circulating said that Aoun might sign the decree on June 18, one day before the parliament's term officially ends, signaling the launch of preparations for the parliamentary polls, the daily said.

Unnamed sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said the President plans to work in accordance with Article 25 of the constitution which stipulates that “ a decision to dissolute the parliament must include a call to stage new elections within a period of three month.” The elections would then be held under the 1960 law in force.

Parliamentary elections are supposed to be held in May, but political parties are still bickering over amending the current 1960 majoritarian election law which divides seats among the different religious sects.

Several law formats have been suggested to replace the law in force and they include a proportional representation system, the qualification law, the Orthodox law, several forms of hybrid laws and many other but none garnered approval of all parties.

The country has not organized parliamentary elections since 2009 and the legislature has instead twice extended its own mandate.

The last polls were held under an amended version of the 1960 electoral law.

The parliament's term ends on June 20.