The "Change Alliance" bloc rejected, in a statement, the "postponement of municipal elections once again, for the third consecutive time," affirming its "opposition to legislation in light of the vacancy in the presidential position." They confirmed "their non-participation in the legislative session scheduled for next Thursday, adhering to the constitution and commitment to deadlines and obligations."
They indicated that "the insistence of the ruling authority's pillars to ignore constitutional and legal obligations and to obstruct them is merely further evidence of their continued approach that led to the country's collapse." They stated: "There is no longer any ambiguity about their lack of intention to conduct municipal elections, perhaps due to their knowledge that the results will not be in their favor, which is clearly reflected in the Speaker of the House's behavior, who ignored the entire council and exceeded his powers that do not permit him to allow or deny the conduct of a constitutional entitlement."
They added: "When we asked the government during discussions on the 2024 budget sessions about the absence of funding for municipal elections in the draft budget, their answer was 'we forgot.' This simply reflects the mentality of those currently in power, who disregard municipal elections in order to maintain the control of the ruling parties over the remaining municipalities, some of which are dissolved, while others are inactive."
The bloc held the "caretaker government responsible for the entire delay of the municipal elections and demanded that they be conducted on time, taking into consideration the war occurring in border areas and finding a suitable legal framework to exempt them, as was done in 1998."
They stated: "As for the House of Representatives, the blocs represented in the government, in full coordination with it, produced the proposal for extension and will ensure the quorum for its passing. They bear the consequences of bypassing constitutional obligations and accepting the extension of municipal councils in front of the Lebanese, after the representatives of these blocs in the government failed to prepare for them. This thus deprives citizens of activating local development, which is an extreme necessity in light of the state's inability to provide the simplest services and infrastructure."
They emphasized once again that expanded administrative decentralization is a principle enshrined in the constitution and an obligation to be implemented, which will lead to reducing the developmental burdens on the central state and allowing localities to address their problems according to their different priorities.
