Bassil Suffers '3rd Defeat' as Electoral Panel Says No Time for Amending Law
Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil announced Friday that he “has been defeated for the third time,” as a ministerial panel tasked with studying the implementation of the new electoral law said there is no time left to introduce any amendments.
“I have been defeated for the third time, and the Lebanese have lost the reforms with me,” said Bassil after the meeting.
“I lost in the face of a political decision to halt the reforms and the Lebanese have lost with me. This is a loss for the freedom of voters,” Bassil added.
Sport and Youth Minister Mohammed Fneish of Hizbullah meanwhile said that the meeting was “the committee's last meeting.”
“We are headed for elections,” Fneish added.
Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq meanwhile said he is “proud of the reforms that had been approved, especially the issue of electoral megacenters and voting in the place of residency.”
“These two points represent a major progress. As for the issue of expats, which is essential and important and unprecedented in Lebanon, it has recorded a notable success in terms of registration. The credit goes to Minister Bassil and the Foreign Ministry in this regard,” Mashnouq added.
“Practically, this is where we are, and political disputes and the deadlines have prevented the Interior Ministry from making any serious effort regarding megacenters and biometric voting cards,” the minister explained.
“And when we faced a demand to extend the deadline for expat registration, we failed to do so because the issue needed introducing amendments to the law,” he added.
Asked whether the results of the elections could face appeals before the Constitutional Council seeing as the law will not be fully implemented, Mashnouq said: “Constitutional and legal debate is revolving around a sole article, which is Article 84 that has to do with the use of magnetic cards. This issue needs a legal solution.”
He however reassured that “the elections will certainly be held on time.”
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