The head of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Jaja, warned against attempts to cancel the municipal elections and extend the current municipal councils. He expressed that "a disaster is being prepared for the Lebanese people by the parliamentary blocs that are preparing to extend the current councils through the legislative session called by the Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, on Tuesday, April 18." He reminded everyone of the statement made by the Minister of Interior in the caretaker government, Bassam Mawlawi, in Bkerke regarding the ministry's preparedness to conduct the elections, warning that "the parliamentary blocs that intend to cancel the municipal elections, specifically the Resistance axis blocs and the Free Patriotic Movement, are using the excuse of the Interior Ministry's unpreparedness."
He pointed out that "there is a signal indicating that President Mikati called for a government session on Tuesday, specifically on the 18th, with the agenda including securing funds for the municipal elections. However, the Resistance blocs preempted this government meeting and agreed to hold a parliamentary session on the same morning in order to obstruct the government from securing the necessary funds to conduct these elections." He stated, "It must be confirmed that what has happened and is happening regarding municipal elections is a clear fraud perpetrated by the mentioned blocs aimed at paralyzing the municipal and optional elections. If these blocs had a minimum of responsibility, they would have agreed with President Berri on setting a date for a parliamentary session after Tuesday."
He reiterated that "the parliament, in its current state, is an electoral body and not a legislative one; therefore, extending the municipal councils is unconstitutional based on the Constitutional Council Decision No. 1/1997 dated September 12, 1997."
