Report: Berri Stresses Timely Elections amid Delay Concerns
Assurances that Lebanon is going to stage timely parliamentary elections is marred by rumors that it could be postponed for “circumstances beyond the State's will, or for technical reasons having to do with reforms,” while Speaker Nabih Berri stresses timely polls, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.
Preparations at the political, administrative and field levels are underway to stage the May 6 polls, but a senior political source who spoke on condition of anonymity said “two reasons could delay the elections.”
“First, shall some compelling circumstances beyond the State's will take place. Second, if technical disputes were caused under the banner of reforms in order to delay them for another six months, and pave the way for the new parliament to witnesses the election of the next president,” according to the source.
However, Speaker Nabih Berri has reiterated saying “elections will be staged on time. The electoral law which is based on a proportional representation system can not be amended nor modified.”
“Many dream of changing the law, which is impossible. What has been written is written. Preparations to wage the elections on time are underway,” stressed Berri.
The electoral law based on a proportional representation system was approved in 2017.
Suggestions demanding changes and the creation of polling megacenters and the creation of magnetic voting cards arose recently, only five month before the elections are due.
Source: Naharnet
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