Municipal elections to be held in spring
Lebanon, Politics, 1/5/1998

Municipal and mayoral elections in Lebanon will be held in the spring for the first time in over 30 years. Elections will be held all across the country except for a border enclave Israel occupies in the south.

Elections in the occupied zone would be held six months after the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the zone, which Israel has occupied since 1985.

Lebanese leaders place great importance on the elections and have been encouraging the Lebanese people to join in the vote. However critics and media speculation have expressed doubts that the elections would be held as scheduled.

Parliament endorsed the election law on December 22 and it has been signed by both Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and President Elias Hrawi. Hrawi signed the law although his insistence on appointing one third of the municipal councils for villages in the Druze areas southeast of Beirut was overlooked by parliament.

Hrawi had fought for the appointment approach because most of the Christian population of the Druze villages who fled their homes during the civil war has not been able to return.

The new law approved by parliament stipulated that no elections in these locations be held until the return of the displaced citizens is completed.

House Speaker Nabih Berri has said that nothing could possibly stand in the way of the elections being held. Interior Minister Michel Murr said there was only a one percent chance that the elections would not take place.

However, critics of the government have said that the officials would find reason to back out at the last minute.

Previous Stories:
  Lebanon: provincial elections to start on May 24   (12/29/1997)
  Hrawi: local polls are great event   (12/24/1997)
  Lebanese cabinet discusses municipal draft bill   (12/19/1997)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search