May 12, 2022
1 min read

Lebanese President vows to hold transparent, free polls

Lebanese President Michel Aoun vowed has vowed that the May 15 parliamentary polls will be conducted in a transparent and free manner…reports Asian Lite News

Aoun made remarks during his meeting with a delegation from the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) at the Baabda Palace, reports Xinhua news agency.

“All measures have been taken to conduct the electoral process in an atmosphere of transparency, freedom and democratic competition,” Aoun was quoted as saying.

Lebanon is a member of the OIF, a Paris-based organization established to facilitate cooperation among its members, most of which were French-speaking countries or regions.

Aoun said that the OIF delegation’s visit is a proof of the organisation’s firm belief in Lebanon’s respect for democracy.

Alda Greoli, head of the OIF delegation, thanked Aoun for the country’s cooperation in facilitating the delegation’s mission, which will remain in Lebanon for 10 days to monitor the elections and write a report on the event.

Ahead of the May 15 polls, the first round of voting for the Lebanese expats took place on May 6 in nine Arab countries and Iran, and the second phase began on May 8 in 49 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe.

Parliamentary elections are held in Lebanon every four years.

A total of 718 candidates, including 118 females, are in the fray for the polls to the 128-seat Parliament.

ALSO READ: Lebanon starts second phase of expat voting in parliamentary elections

Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system allocates seats for its mosaic of religious sects in its Parliament, including Sunni and Shia Muslims, various Christian denominations, and the Druze.

The president must always be a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni and the Speaker of Parliament a Shia.

The elections come amid an unprecedented economic crisis that emerged about three years ago, leading to the currency to lose more than 90 per cent of its value since 2019, while also plunging over 70 per cent of the population into poverty.

Previous Story

Will reverse Twitter ban on Trump: Musk

Next Story

Zelensky, Scholz hold talks on defensive aid

Latest from Arab News

India backs ceasefire, Gaza aid push

Reiterating India’s historic support to Palestine, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said India shared strong ties with Palestinian brothers and sisters India has called for an

IAEA Team to Visit Iran in Weeks

Iran to Host IAEA Technical Team Within Weeks, Says Deputy FM Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, announced that Tehran has agreed to receive a technical delegation

Victory First, Then Peace?

Katz stressed the importance of meeting the war’s goals as set, primarily the return of all Israeli hostages and the surrender of Hamas….reports Asian Lite News Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said

Fragile Peace in Sweida Gains Regional Support

Jordan, Syria, U.S. discuss Syria’s Sweida ceasefire in Amman as more Israeli Druze cross border to Syria to fuel tensions Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Syrian foreign affairs chief Asaad Al-Shaibani, and

The illusion of normalcy in Israel

As people are trying to heal from the scars of war and resume their everyday lives, for those of us living in Israel, normalcy feels like an illusion — fleeting, easily shattered
Go toTop

Don't Miss

TCL Electronics joins Jashanmal  

TCL Electronics (1070.HK), the global No.2 LCD TV brand and

Art Dubai opens largest edition to date

Art Dubai’s 15th edition features more than 100 contemporary and