Cabinet Postpones Municipal Vote, Forms Food Security Panel amid Russia Row

The Cabinet on Friday decided to postpone the municipal and mayoral elections for a year, as it formed a ministerial panel on food security in connection with the war in Ukraine.

MTV said the decision to postpone the municipal vote was taken due to a lack of financial resources and manpower.

“It suggested that it be held on May 31, 2023, and the suggestion will be referred to parliament to take the appropriate decision,” the TV network added.

Separately, Cabinet formed a ministerial panel led by the economy minister and comprised of the ministers of industry, agriculture, defense and culture to “tackle the food security crisis” in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The committee would also “protect the markets in terms of preventing monopolization and price manipulation.”

Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram of Hizbullah meanwhile renewed his criticism of Lebanon’s official stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, after Lebanon voted in favor of a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Moscow.

“Lebanon’s bias does not have an impact and it will only aggravate our difficult and complicated situation. Doesn’t this stance deserve to be discussed in Cabinet to be properly presented, especially that we had previously objected against the foreign minister’s decision?” Bayram said.

“Aren’t we all concerned as a Council of Ministers in taking the Lebanese political stances regarding the various topics?” he added.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati responded by saying: “We have told you that Russia is not targeted by the statement. We are against any foreign intervention in any state, regardless of the intervening state.”