Legislative elections will be held ‘on time’ Aoun tells European Parliament delegation

BEIRUT — Parliamentary elections will be held “on time” and preparations to start negotiations with the International Monetary Fund are underway, President Michel Aoun told a group from the European Parliament delegation for relations with Middle Eastern countries, headed by its president, Isabel Santos, on Tuesday.

Here’s what we know: 

    • Aoun confirmed in the meeting that preparations are “underway to hold parliamentary elections on time in an atmosphere of freedom, democracy and transparency,” his office tweeted. The president, however, avoided specifying a date for the polls, amid a dispute between the Free Patriotic Movement — which Aoun founded — and other parties, notably the Amal Movement, on whether elections should be held on March 27 or on the FPM’s preferred date, May 8. Parliament has twice voted in favor of March 27, but FPM head MP Gebran Bassil (FPM/Batroun) at the time of the first vote said he would present an appeal to the amendments made on the law and after the second vote left the parliamentary session in anger along with MPs from his political bloc.

    • During the meeting with the European delegation, the Lebanese president explained his country’s predicament at length, saying that the economic crisis hinders the “state’s ability to fulfill its obligations,” and that Lebanon has been subjected to an “economic and commercial blockade” due to the Syrian war, a statement from the presidency read. Aoun added that Lebanon is also burdened by “complications of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut port blast, and the measures which Lebanon is currently subjected to by several Gulf states.” Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have all severed diplomatic ties with Lebanon in recent days over comments made by Information Minister George Kurdahi about the kingdom’s role in the war in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has also banned all Lebanese imports.

    • Addressing the ongoing diplomatic spat during the meeting with the European delegation, Aoun, according to his office, said that officials are exerting continuous efforts “at various levels to reach appropriate solutions.”

    • Following the meeting, the delegation said their visit was an opportunity to learn more about the economic crisis in Lebanon, noting that they discussed with the president “preparations for an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.” Aoun also confirmed the cabinet is continuing to prepare for negotiations with the IMF to achieve an economic recovery plan.

    • In order to promote reforms and fight corruption, the European delegation stressed the importance of holding parliamentary elections and investigating the Aug. 4 Beirut port explosion, Aoun’s office tweeted.

    • Santos said that the delegation’s visit extends for the next two days, during which time the group “will meet with officials and Lebanese authorities, as well as other representatives of civil society and those responsible for projects that are funded by the EU.”