The U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, on Monday welcomed an announcement by caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi calling for municipal elections during 7 May through 28 May 2023.

“Conducting the municipal elections is important for adhering to Lebanon’s constitutional timelines and democratic practices, at a time when the country is already facing a presidential vacancy and widespread institutional paralysis,” Wronecka said.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused Monday the Free Patriotic Movement and the Hezbollah-led camp of obstructing the municipal polls.

"it's getting harder for them, the FPM's popular support is not at its best," Geagea said, adding that millions of dollars had been spent from the Special Drawing Rights and that the elections can also be funded.

France is inclined to invite more Lebanese presidential candidates to talks in Paris, after it hosted Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh in recent days, Annahar newspaper reported on Monday.

Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh appeared to be “very relieved” although “realistic” following his return from Paris, al-Akhbar newspaper quoted his visitors as saying.

A Lebanese-Canadian academic who is the lone suspect in a 1980 bombing outside a Paris synagogue will go on trial Monday, nearly 43 years after four people were killed and 46 wounded in the unclaimed attack.

French authorities identified Hassan Diab as a suspect in 1999. They accuse him of planting the bomb on the evening of Oct. 3, 1980, outside the synagogue where 320 worshipers had gathered to mark the end of a Jewish holiday.

A Qatari delegation, headed by the minister of state at the Qatari Foreign Ministry Mohammed Abdel Aziz al-Khulaifi, met Monday with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri over the presidential file.

Al-Khulaifi arrived in Lebanon on Sunday night to discuss the presidential deadlock with the Lebanese leaders.

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announced Monday that municipal elections will take place on time.

"We are ready to hold the municipal elections, and we will issue the necessary circulars," Mawlawi said, adding that he is forced by law to hold the elections and that he is convinced that these elections must be held on time.

French presidential adviser Patrick Durel has obtained Paris-demanded “guarantees” from Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh and will discuss them with the Saudis, a senior French source said.

Conflicting reports emerged Saturday over Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh’s visit to the French capital Paris and his meeting there with Patrick Durel -- the French president’s advisor for North Africa and the Middle East.

A European Union official visiting Lebanon said Friday that the international body will increase its humanitarian assistance to the crisis-struck country, but that more significant long-term aid depends on reforms and a deal with the International Monetary Fund.

EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said at a press conference following his two-day visit that the EU will provide 60 million euros (more than $65 million) in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon in 2023, a 20% increase from last year.