After the Speaker of the House Nabih Berri called for a general session on Thursday to discuss the expedited legislative proposal aimed at extending the term of the existing municipal and selective councils until May 31, 2025, submitted by MP Jihad Al-Samad, most parliamentary blocs and MPs have announced their positions regarding participation tomorrow.
The Follow-Up Committee of Opposition MPs discussed the stance on the law to extend municipal councils during its weekly meeting, confirming that the blocs of Renewing, the Strong Republic, the Change Alliance, the Lebanese Forces, and MP Bilal Hachimi will not participate in the general assembly session on Thursday, April 25, 2024, designated for extending the term of municipal councils, in rejection of postponing constitutional electoral deadlines.
Opposition MPs rejected the postponement of municipal elections and called on the caretaker government to conduct them on time, excluding border areas due to prevailing legal force majeure conditions as a result of the ongoing war. They emphasized that the government has a responsibility to respect deadlines and uphold constitutional obligations; failing to hold municipal elections for the third consecutive time constitutes a blatant breach of the constitution that falls upon the government and its members.
The statement highlighted that holding municipal elections is a national necessity amid the current circumstances faced by the Lebanese, particularly due to the near-total collapse of state institutions, the disintegration of some municipal councils, and the inefficiency of others.
Opposition MPs condemned the Speaker of the House's stance, which they viewed as an overstep into government prerogatives by deciding to postpone elections, disregarding the principle of separation of powers. Additionally, they asserted that he preemptively assumed the intentions of other MPs regarding the extension of municipal councils.
Opposition MPs urged their fellow colleagues to take responsibility, first by electing a president for the republic and second by rejecting the extension of municipal councils while insisting on respecting constitutional deadlines.
**Michel Daher** announced in a statement to Al-Jadeed channel that he will not attend the parliamentary session discussing the extension of the selective and municipal councils on Thursday and is against the extension.
**Osama Saad** informed the Parliament, according to his media office, that he will be absent from the session that will discuss the extension of municipal and selective councils on Thursday for health reasons, affirming that his position is against the extension. He had suffered a health setback on the night of Wednesday, April 17, and underwent a heart catheterization procedure on April 18 at Labib Medical Hospital in Sidon.
**Faisal Karami** stated in an interview with Al-Jadeed that he does not want the people of the south to experience what the people of the north felt between 2011 and 2014, therefore he will attend the parliamentary session and vote for the extension of municipal and selective councils.
**Imad Al-Hout** also remarked that he believes we should not reinforce the culture of boycotting parliamentary sessions, as those who boycott today for what they see as a benefit will find their opponents using the same weapon of boycott for another agenda. He will participate in Thursday's session and vote against the extension, as it is not right to leave a void in many municipalities and to bypass democratic principles in renewing councils through elections.
**Nabil Badr** announced that he will attend the parliamentary session on Thursday and will not vote for the extension of municipal and selective councils.
