Despite the recent ground developments in the south which have raised serious concerns due to the intensification of Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah elements without sparing civilians, and the party's expansion of its response to a new record depth reaching the outskirts of Akka and the potential on-ground repercussions, the legislative parliamentary session scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, has captured political and parliamentary attention amid the clear signs of a broad divisional rift between those opposing the extension of the municipalities and consequently postponing municipal elections, and those supporting the extension and the deferral of the entitlement for another year, as reported by "An-Nahar."
There is no doubt that the trend towards extension, which is likely to occur tomorrow, will expand the parliamentary and political rift in the country and complicate the ongoing national crisis amid various crises starting from the presidential vacuum to the blocking of all entitlements, even as supporters of the extension are bolstered by the serious ongoing developments in the south; despite their actual danger, they should not hinder the elections in other areas and preserving the right of regions where elections cannot be held to vote later on.
In light of the complex alliance between the Shiite duo and their allies and the Free Patriotic Movement, which is preparing to pass the extension, opposition blocs and forces, especially the Christian ones, are heading towards boycotting the parliamentary session tomorrow. As expected, the Free Patriotic Movement has aligned itself with the resistance axis, endorsing the extension of the municipalities in implementation of a deal that brought forth a head of the engineers, whom the movement nominated with the support of the Shiite duo, leading to the movement joining the supporters of the municipal extension tomorrow.
Members of the Strong Republic Bloc will hold a press conference today at 11 AM in the Parliament to announce the bloc's position regarding the legislative session, declaring their boycott of the extension session. The "Tajdid" bloc will also be absent from the session. The Kataeb party has also announced its non-participation in the municipal extension session, asserting that respecting constitutional entitlements and the principle of periodic elections are foundations of the democratic political system in Lebanon and guarantees for it. The exercise of the Lebanese people's right to vote and accountability ensures good management of public affairs, both locally and nationally.
It is not strange that a tremendous effort has been made for years to undermine these entitlements if they do not align with the interests of a political team to meet its profit and loss criteria. The Kataeb bloc announced its non-participation in the session dedicated to the extension of municipal and elective councils, believing in the essential role of local councils in responding to citizens' needs and preserving what remains of public order and the integrity of the constitution and law.
In the evening, the Follow-up Committee for Opposition Forces announced that the blocs of Tajdid, Strong Republic, Change Alliance, Lebanese Kataeb, and MP Bilal Hachimi would not participate in the General Assembly session on Thursday, April 25, 2024, dedicated to extending the mandate of municipalities, rejecting the postponement of constitutional electoral entitlements. They emphasized their refusal to postpone municipal elections and called on the caretaker government to conduct them on time, exempting border areas due to existing legal circumstances of force majeure due to the ongoing war there.
The government bears the responsibility for respecting entitlements and their deadlines, a constitutional duty that cannot be overlooked. Not holding municipal elections for the third consecutive time constitutes a blatant violation of the constitution borne by the government and its members. The opposition blocs condemned the Speaker of Parliament's position, which usurped the government's role in deciding the postponement of elections, disregarding the principle of separation of powers, as well as usurping the will and stance of other deputies regarding the municipalities' extension.
On the other hand, the Free Patriotic Movement held a meeting in the afternoon to take the necessary stance regarding the session, and preliminary information indicates that its deputies will attend the extension session and vote for the extension.
In scattered positions regarding the session, it was learned that MP Ni'meh Afram will not attend due to travel, while MP Halima Qaqour confirmed her attendance but stated she would not vote for the extension, and MP Michel Daher indicated he would not attend and is against the extension, as well as MP Nabil Badr who confirmed he would attend but would not vote for the extension.
It is noteworthy that the opposition atmosphere heading towards boycotting the extension session will culminate in a broad conference for opposition deputies and figures at the Lebanese Forces party headquarters in Maarab next Saturday morning under the title "1701 in Defense of Lebanon." This meeting, called by the Lebanese Forces party, will discuss ways to pressure for the implementation of Resolution 1701 in light of the dangerous field developments in the south and the expanding scope of war, in addition to the security disintegration and increasing killings amid the chaos at the borders.
The conference will not be limited to the 32 opposition deputies who constitute the opposition within Parliament and their parties alone, but will be expanded to include parties not represented in Parliament as well as former deputies, ministers, political, intellectual, and cultural figures, journalists, unionists, and sovereign influencers who share a strategic vision and converge politically across various sects.
The goal of the expanded meeting is to activate and continue political action following the killing of Lebanese Forces official Pascal Sleiman and to maintain political pressure in conjunction with popular support to pursue solutions and propose a comprehensive vision, especially as the situation deteriorates on the southern front amid growing international warnings about the war's expansion. Meeting attendees from all opposition factions will explore serious and practical steps to put an end to state disintegration and how to expedite the election of a president who will place the country on the path to resolution.
