The newspaper "Al-Liwaa" reported that the number of properly registered lists to participate in the parliamentary elections has exceeded 103, following the closure of the registration deadline last night. After the registration closed, Minister of Interior and Municipalities Bassam Mawlawi held a press conference, during which he confirmed the ministry’s readiness to fulfill all its duties despite the challenging circumstances and disturbances, insisting on conducting the electoral process smoothly, safely, and successfully. Mawlawi revealed that there are 118 women included in the electoral lists, marking the highest female participation this time, calling for wide, free, and disciplined participation, while emphasizing that all measures will be taken to enforce the law without any violations to ensure the elections proceed transparently and freely. He noted that electricity will be provided throughout the election day, including in the registration committees until the results are announced, mentioning that various options are available.
There was a noticeable increase in the number of lists compared to the 2018 elections (77 lists), indicating the intensity of ongoing confrontations that have employed all means to defuse tensions, maintain sizes, and enhance the competitive atmosphere ahead of the May 15 elections. This explains the reported intervention of the President to convince candidate Amal Abu Zeid to continue his candidacy and not withdraw due to verbal and personal disputes with his colleague on the list, current MP Ziad Aswad, as both are candidates representing the Free Patriotic Movement.
In a relevant political and electoral context, President Najib Mikati’s visit to Clemenceau was significant, as it became clear that the main objective was related to the electoral alliance in Tripoli, where it was agreed to include Afraa Eid from the Progressive Socialist Party in the list supported by Mikati in the northern capital.
The "Shami Misstep"
The comment by Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh Shami that the state is bankrupt negatively impacted the political climate, prompting Mikati, after visiting Jumblatt, to say: “Shami’s comments were taken out of context; he spoke about insolvency, not bankruptcy.” Political sources noted that the implications of Shami's remarks on bankruptcy should navigate toward resolution, stressing that his statements are not new, as bankruptcy has been acknowledged by several officials for years.
Moreover, any diplomatic appointments should be agreed upon between the President and the Prime Minister, and the session where appointments take place is chaired by the President. The Central Bank Governor, Riad Salameh, denied claims of bankruptcy, describing them as incorrect, adding that despite losses in the Lebanese financial sector—currently being addressed in a recovery plan being prepared by the Lebanese government in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund—the Central Bank will continue its designated role.
Shami clarified that his comments in the video were taken out of context in response to a question about the state and Central Bank's contributions to addressing losses in the banking sector, stating that they cannot assist significantly due to a lack of liquidity to cover these losses. He explained that the term "bankruptcy" came up since there is a consensus that negotiations with the IMF are a path to resolution, not a solution in itself.
In this context, a committee tasked by economic bodies met with the head of the IMF delegation, Ernesto Rego Ramirez, at the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, discussing the “financial recovery plan under negotiation.” The economic bodies emphasized the need to start the recovery plan based on realistic and scientific data and a comprehensive, fair, and sustainable economic vision.
They affirmed the following constants:
- The responsibility for the financial collapse, acknowledged by all, lies with the state, the Central Bank, and the banks in that order.
- There is severe objection to narratives in the presented plan that aim to reverse this hierarchy, absolving the state and placing the entire financial gap burden on depositors and banks, effectively transforming state debt into massive losses for Lebanese society and the economy.
The bodies urged for the state, as a legal entity, to recognize its fundamental and assured responsibility in creating the significant financial gap and reaffirm its commitment to contributing the largest financial share to mend it, proposing the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund dedicated to this aim, viewing it as the only way to restore trust in Lebanon and avoid a fatal blow to depositors, the banking system, and the national economy.
Mikati emphasized during the fourth meeting of the "Framework for Reform, Recovery, and Reconstruction 3RF for Lebanon’s Economic Recovery" that the government is working with relevant public sector entities to unify a comprehensive vision for development, recovery, and reform among stakeholders, stating, "We are nearing the finalization of this unified vision to implement necessary reforms."
The Deputy Prime Minister remarked that negotiations are ongoing between the Lebanese government and the IMF, focusing on restructuring the banking sector, completing the economic recovery plan, approving the budget in parliament, and passing the capital control project, with hopes of soon signing an initial agreement to follow with the necessary preliminary procedures before final signing.
The UN resident representative in Lebanon, Najat Rashid, announced, “This meeting presents observations and obstacles in addition to the progress made in the action plan agreed upon, which focuses on three points: achieving macroeconomic stability, social protection, and the independence of the judiciary and combating corruption.”
Council of Ministers
The Council of Ministers will convene for a regular session tomorrow at the Grand Serail, with 21 items on the agenda, excluding appointments and transfers. Highlights include Item 15 related to the Minister of Energy's presentation on the progress of the national plan for the sustainable development of the electricity sector concerning the establishment of new power plants, and Item 14 concerning two decrees postponed from previous sessions regarding amendments to certain provisions of the decree and its appendices related to the licensing cycle in Lebanese territorial waters, including the exploration agreement model, and amending a provision related to regulations concerning petroleum activities. Item 18 consists of the Minister of Displaced Person's "rescue vision for the distressed banking sector," which has been delayed from previous sessions. Other items mostly involve budget transfers for operational expenses for various ministries based on the twelfth basis, particularly for the Ministries of Justice and Education for judicial orders and reconciliations.
Mikati stated after his visit to Jumblatt in Clemenceau: “The visit to Walid Bey was a normal consultative meeting. We met to explore his opinion and discuss topics relevant to the country and the government.” When asked if there’s a moratorium on appointments, he replied: “For now, there are no appointments.”
Elections: Lists and Withdrawals
The recording of electoral lists continued until the registration deadline last night, with semi-official information suggesting the number of lists may reach or exceed a hundred. Yesterday, the “Mountain List” was registered in the Ministry of Interior to contest elections in the Shouf and Aley, including: from Aley: Talal Arslan for the Druze seat, Cesar Abi Khalil, and Antoine Bustani for the two Maronite seats, and Tarek Khairallah for the Orthodox seat. From Shouf: Farid Bustani, Najib Bustani, and Antoine Aboud for the Maronite seats; Wiam Wahhab for the Druze seat; Ahmad Najm al-Din and Osama al-Ma’ouch for the two Sunni seats; and Ghassan Atallah for the Catholic seat.
A unified list of certain opposition forces was also registered under the name "Baidar Change," including: Michel Halou, Ziad Aql (National Gathering), and Robert Khalifa for the Maronite seats; Abeer Naji (Lihqi Group) for the Druze seat; and Wasef al-Harake (People's Observatory Group) for the Shiite seat. The “North Confrontation List” was announced in the North 3rd district, which includes: for the Maronite seats in Zgharta Zawye: Michel Moawad, Jouad Boulos, and Tony al-Mardini; for the two Maronite seats in Batroun: Majd Harb and Jawal al-Hawaik; for the Maronite seat in Bsharri: Rashid Rahme; and for the Orthodox seats in Koura: Brigitte Khair, Adib Abd al-Masih, and Emil Fayyad.
Adviser to the President Amal Abu Zeid announced his reversal of his decision to withdraw from the parliamentary elections, with the registration of the Free Patriotic Movement list in the South 1st district, which includes him with Aswad in the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities. The statement indicated that he "decided against withdrawing due to the insistence of President Michel Aoun and after pressure from the party leader Gibran Bassil, and demands from my colleagues in the Free Patriotic Movement in Jezzine."
The Free Patriotic list includes: Abu Zeid, Aswad (two Maronites), and Selim Khoury (Catholic). In Sidon, it includes the two Sunni seats: Muhammad al-Qawas and Ali al-Sheikh Ammar. Informants revealed that a reconciliation meeting took place days ago between the Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Gibran Bassil and MP Elias Bou Saab, marking the first meeting since their dispute erupted at the end of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s last government.
Sources indicated that the meeting aimed to stop the division within the party ahead of the parliamentary elections to avoid any potential losses against opponents, particularly the Lebanese Forces in Metn, noting President Aoun's personal intervention to achieve this reconciliation. The sources pointed out that the meeting involved candid discussions, ultimately leading to an agreement wherein Bassil promised Bou Saab to facilitate his election as Deputy Speaker of Parliament, succeeding Deputy Elias Farzali, who has become opposed to the party for some time.
The Islamic Group decided to withdraw its candidate, Dr. Bassam Hammoud, from the electoral race in the Sidon – Jezzine district. Likewise, the “Lihqi” group declared the withdrawal of its candidates from the Baalbak, Beirut 2nd, and Shouf – Aley districts, citing numerous breaches during the list formation process in those electoral regions.
The candidate from the Syrian National Social Party for the Akkar 1st district, Abdul Baset Abbas, announced his withdrawal from the candidacy, as did Hossam al-Ashaq in Baalbak-Hermel.
Wheat Available for Six Months
On the livelihood front, the Mills Association in Lebanon announced that it held several meetings with a World Bank delegation in Beirut, attended by representative Ahmad Hattit and members of the association, discussing ways to ensure stability in food security, particularly regarding the continuous supply of wheat, which is an essential food item.
An agreement was reached for the Bank to allocate $150 million to secure Lebanon's wheat needs for six months, considering that food stability starts with ensuring the country’s wheat supply for bread production.
Families of the Port Explosion Victims
In ongoing protests, the "Association of Families of Victims and Injured and Damaged from the Beirut Port Explosion" conducted a monthly stand yesterday (April 4) in front of the Migrant Statue and Martyrs' Gate, participated by families of the victims from the Beirut Firefighting Brigade. This was followed by a march toward the Migrant Statue starting from Gemmayzeh, where families hung images of their martyrs at its entrance.
They raised banners calling for “revealing the truth and justice, and the continuation of the judicial investigation led by Judge Tarek Bitar,” lighting candles and offering prayers coinciding with the moment of the explosion. Reema al-Zahra read a statement on behalf of the association, discussing the “obstruction of the judicial investigation process to reveal the truth and achieve the awaited justice,” emphasizing that “the families will not remain silent about proclaiming the undeniable truth.”
While affirming the families' commitment to protests and demonstrations until a preliminary ruling is issued, she pointed out that “the families of the martyrs, the injured, the affected, and honorable citizens will not allow the continued evident procrastination that has lasted for months to obscure all traces of the crime, negligence, and dereliction and to clear responsibility only to impede the investigation.”
Two Killed in Tripoli
On the security front, ongoing sporadic events heightened concerns for the safety of the elections, as two individuals were killed due to armed clashes between families in the Tabbaneh area of Tripoli, including a child from the Sayyed family. A security source reported that the clashes resulted in “the death of two people from Bab al-Tabbaneh” and injured several others. Several fires broke out in some shops and homes, with elements of the Civil Defense and the Tripoli Fire Brigade working to extinguish them.
Eyewitnesses stated that the heavily deployed Lebanese Army has brought in considerable reinforcements from outside the city, preparing to conduct raids searching for the armed individuals who have barricaded themselves in certain narrow neighborhoods.
1,093,267 Confirmed Cases
In health matters, the Ministry of Public Health reported 272 new COVID-19 infections and 4 deaths within the past 24 hours, raising the total to 1,093,267 confirmed lab cases since February 21, 2020.
