News
Latest News
news bulletin
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Other News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Beirut
24
o
Bekaa
20
o
Keserwan
25
o
Metn
25
o
Mount Lebanon
25
o
North
23
o
South
24
o
Live
Video
Audio
Schedule
shows
العربية
watching now
Special Episode
SUBSCRIBE
Home
Notification
Live
Video
Audio
shows
Beirut
24
o
Bekaa
20
o
Keserwan
25
o
Metn
25
o
Mount Lebanon
25
o
North
23
o
South
24
o
News
Programs
The News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Programs
Series
Movies
Documentaries
Variety
Comedy
Talk Show
News Bulletin
Sports
Breaking News
Latest News
Highlighted News
Most Read
Videos
العربية
Watch the latest programs and the latest developments on your favorite screen
Shows
Join millions of followers
Who We Are
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Careers
Channel frequencies
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Interior Ministry prepares for holding on-time municipal elections
Press Highlights
13-12-2022 | 05:49
High views
Share
Share
6
min
Interior Ministry prepares for holding on-time municipal elections
The parliamentary elections took priority over the municipal and mukhtars elections scheduled for last May because it was more important to rearrange the legislative authorities. Still, the municipal and mukhtars councils were delayed for an entire year.
This article was originally published in, and translated from, Lebanese newspaper Nida Al Watan.
Most political parties desired not to think about the municipal and mukhtar disputes while they prepared for the parliamentary elections. Therefore it was decided to extend it for another year.
However, because there is no way to avoid casting a ballot to elect local administrations, the main forces "bought time."
Municipalities are one of the most significant foundations of administrative decentralization, which is also a topic o f intense discussion.
Municipal and mukhtar elections were held four times following the "Taif republic." They were held in 2004 under similar circumstances for the first time after the war in 1998 and the Syrian occupation. Elections were held in the 2010 and 2016 rounds after Syria withdrew, and the 2022 elections were delayed due to the abovementioned factors.
Many bodies are placing their bets on delaying this deadline once more to prevent more significant fragmentation because of prior experiences. The postponement is still viewed as unconstitutional and is subject to appeal.
According to Legislative Decree No. 118's Article 10, municipal councils have a six-year term in office. Comparatively, the four-year term of office for mukhtars and members of their councils, as stated in Article 15 of the Law of the mukhtars, has been changed to a six-year mandate starting from the election date.
When the first entitlement was held after "Taif," municipalities were 769, and this increased to 964 municipalities in 2010 and 1029 in 2016.
Currently, the number of municipalities is 1112. Municipal and mukhtar elections took place in May 2016 in 4 rounds, unlike the parliamentary elections, which have been taking place in one day since the 2009 elections.
The municipal elections will be held according to the majority election law, not proportionality because it will contribute to more fragmentation of the municipalities. In contrast, municipal work requires a homogeneous work team. Likewise, the election of expatriates will not be available as it was in the parliamentary elections, although the Parliamentary Municipalities Committee is still selecting proposals to amend the law.
In addition, the atmosphere in the Interior Ministry indicates that the municipal and mukhtar elections are taking place on time in May 2023, despite the presidential vacancy.
Here, a fundamental question arises: Can elections be held during a caretaker government? And what happens if we reach the legal deadlines with the expiration of the extended term of municipal and mukhtar councils and some parliamentary forces refuse to convene the Representative Council because it is considered an electorate to extend the municipal councils?
In light of the presidential vacancy, the experience of 2016 is recalled when municipal and mukhtar elections were held. The Tammam Salam government was successful in having this entitlement; however, Mikati's cabinet is a caretaker one.
The constitutional opinion confirms that the caretaker cabinet can conduct municipal and mukhtar elections because this work is included in the constitution under the principle of necessity to ensure the continuity of the elected local administrations.
However, regarding the disbursement of funds, the caretaker cabinet can meet similarly to the meeting that took place last week to legally secure these credits if there is a political decision to do so.
As for the extension of municipal and mukhtar councils, it is contrary to the constitution, and in 1996 the Constitutional Council issued a jurisprudence that considered this matter unconstitutional.
Still, the ruling authorities, despite this decision, continued to extend local administrations until 1998 and then delayed them for a year in 2022.
But if the political decision does not allow municipal elections to be held and the parliament does not convene for the extension on the pretext that it is an electorate body, then either the de facto municipal and mukhtar councils continue to conduct narrow business under the slogan "continuity of local facilities," or the municipalities' work is entrusted to the mayors, as is the case.
So, electing a new president is the easiest way to hold elections, and holding these elections in batches and not in one day puts less pressure on the Interior Ministry, which is preparing as if the elections are taking place tomorrow.
In addition to the logistical preparations, lists of eligible voters will be issued. At the same time, the security readiness is secured, and the devices are ready to cover this entitlement. There is no compelling security reason for not holding it, so all factors combine to hold the elections on time.
On the other hand, several international bodies are asking about this entitlement and approaching Mikati and Interior Minister Bassam al-Mawlawi in this regard. The answer was that the government is committed to holding municipal and mukhtars elections on time if a new president is not elected.
All data confirmed respect for holding municipal and mukhtars elections on time, which means that 'parties, forces, and families will drown in this great quagmire.' The mandate of the municipal and mukhtars councils ends at the end of next May. It is assumed that electorate bodies will be called two months before the end of the extended mandate unless the Interior Minister decides to reveal the date of the elections.
Breaking Headlines
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon
Lebanese
Municipal
Mukhtar
Mukhtars
Municipality
Administrations
Cabinet
Elections
Vote
Next
President Aoun: Reforms, stability will bring investors back to Lebanon
Recommended For You
d-none hideMe
0
Press Highlights
2025-05-01
President Aoun: Reforms, stability will bring investors back to Lebanon
Press Highlights
2025-05-01
President Aoun: Reforms, stability will bring investors back to Lebanon
Subscribe to our VOD
SUBSCRIBE
Our visitors readings
d-none hideMe
0
Lebanon News
08:02
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun heads to Kuwait on an official visit
Lebanon News
08:02
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun heads to Kuwait on an official visit
0
Lebanon News
2025-04-05
US envoy Morgan Ortagus praises Lebanese government's reform steps in meeting with PM Salam
Lebanon News
2025-04-05
US envoy Morgan Ortagus praises Lebanese government's reform steps in meeting with PM Salam
0
Lebanon News
2025-03-04
President Aoun heads to Cairo for Arab League extraordinary summit after talks with Saudi crown prince
Lebanon News
2025-03-04
President Aoun heads to Cairo for Arab League extraordinary summit after talks with Saudi crown prince
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2025-02-28
Hamas urges pressure on Israel to start next phase of Gaza ceasefire
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2025-02-28
Hamas urges pressure on Israel to start next phase of Gaza ceasefire
Videos
d-none hideMe
0
Lebanon News
10:57
Kuwait rolls out official welcome for Lebanon's President Aoun – video
Lebanon News
10:57
Kuwait rolls out official welcome for Lebanon's President Aoun – video
0
Lebanon News
07:06
Security incidents temporarily disrupt voting in several Akkar and Minieh-Danniyeh centers
Lebanon News
07:06
Security incidents temporarily disrupt voting in several Akkar and Minieh-Danniyeh centers
0
News Bulletin Reports
2025-05-09
EU ambassador says 'we are not just donors, but genuine partners to Lebanon': Insights from exclusive LBCI interview
News Bulletin Reports
2025-05-09
EU ambassador says 'we are not just donors, but genuine partners to Lebanon': Insights from exclusive LBCI interview
0
Lebanon News
2025-04-23
US envoy Morgan Ortagus hails Lebanese diaspora, says country stands at a crossroads
Lebanon News
2025-04-23
US envoy Morgan Ortagus hails Lebanese diaspora, says country stands at a crossroads
0
Lebanon News
2025-04-08
Morgan Ortagus urges Lebanon to pass banking reforms to restore financial trust
Lebanon News
2025-04-08
Morgan Ortagus urges Lebanon to pass banking reforms to restore financial trust
0
Lebanon News
2025-04-06
LBCI Exclusive: US envoy Morgan Ortagus reveals US vision for Lebanon’s stability and disarmament – full interview transcript
Lebanon News
2025-04-06
LBCI Exclusive: US envoy Morgan Ortagus reveals US vision for Lebanon’s stability and disarmament – full interview transcript
0
Lebanon News
2025-03-23
LBCI's Pierre El Daher bids farewell to Hoda Chedid: You will always be our guiding light
Lebanon News
2025-03-23
LBCI's Pierre El Daher bids farewell to Hoda Chedid: You will always be our guiding light
0
Middle East News
2025-03-19
Israeli official urges international support for Lebanese government and army
Middle East News
2025-03-19
Israeli official urges international support for Lebanese government and army
0
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Israeli aircraft fly at low altitude over Beirut during Hezbollah's former leaders funeral
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Israeli aircraft fly at low altitude over Beirut during Hezbollah's former leaders funeral
Most read
d-none hideMe
24 hours
7 days
Month
1
Lebanon News
05:55
Syrian official denies to LBCI discovery of US journalist Austin Tice's remains
Lebanon News
05:55
Syrian official denies to LBCI discovery of US journalist Austin Tice's remains
2
Lebanon News
10:19
Video captures major clash in Sfira, Danniyeh amid municipal elections
Lebanon News
10:19
Video captures major clash in Sfira, Danniyeh amid municipal elections
3
Lebanon News
10:57
Kuwait rolls out official welcome for Lebanon's President Aoun – video
Lebanon News
10:57
Kuwait rolls out official welcome for Lebanon's President Aoun – video
4
Israel-Gaza War Updates
07:45
Israel says recognition of Palestinian state will force 'unilateral actions' in response
Israel-Gaza War Updates
07:45
Israel says recognition of Palestinian state will force 'unilateral actions' in response
5
Lebanon News
14:37
Shooting reported in North Lebanon, casualty in Ain al-Dehab, Akkar
Lebanon News
14:37
Shooting reported in North Lebanon, casualty in Ain al-Dehab, Akkar
6
Lebanon News
08:02
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun heads to Kuwait on an official visit
Lebanon News
08:02
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun heads to Kuwait on an official visit
7
Lebanon News
08:46
Security intervenes in Miniyeh polling station dispute, says LADE
Lebanon News
08:46
Security intervenes in Miniyeh polling station dispute, says LADE
8
Lebanon News
08:34
Figures show lower turnout in most North Lebanon districts compared to 2016
Lebanon News
08:34
Figures show lower turnout in most North Lebanon districts compared to 2016
Download now the LBCI mobile app
To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world
Google Play
App Store
We use
cookies
We use
cookies
to make
your experience on this
website better.
Accept
Learn More