Lebanese President Sets May 6 as Election Day
Local Editor
Lebanese President Michel Aoun Monday signed a decree to officially set May 6 as the date for Lebanon's first parliamentary elections in nine years, putting to rest fears of another postponement.
Alongside Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk also signed the decree ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline.
A source from Baabda Palace told The Daily Star that the decree would be published in the Official Gazette Thursday.
In a tweet, Machnouk said that Aoun's signature put to bed any doubt over whether elections would be held. "‘Lebanon Elects Us' is no longer a slogan, but a reality and a truth. ... President Aoun's signature is the sharpest response to all doubts and rumors," the minister added.
As well as setting May 6 as the day for the national vote, the decree - circulated by Baabda Palace - detailed voting days for Lebanese expats and election coordinators.
Preregistered expats in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt while those in America will cast their ballots on April 27, and those in Europe, Africa and Australia will head to the polls on April 29.
The deadline for expat voter registration ended on Nov. 20, but there have been attempts by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil to extend the deadline until Feb. 15.
The ministerial committee tasked with following up on the implementation of the new law and that was expected to meet Monday to discuss Bassil's proposal did not convene. The decree also designated May 3 for staff manning polling stations to vote, ahead of the general public.
The elections will be the first since parties agreed on a new proportional vote law.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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