The head of the Maronite Church Bechara al-Rai. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — The head of the Maronite Church, Bechara al-Rai, denounced Sunday “maneuvers to postpone the legislative elections” currently scheduled to take place on May 15, and expressed hope that electoral programs “will focus on the neutrality of the country and the limitation of the possession of weapons to the army.”
In his Sunday homily, the prelate also said that the “parliamentary and presidential elections are the inevitable way for Lebanon to become a respected state again,” as the country tries to recover from a multi-dimensional collapse and reconnect with the Gulf countries following a diplomatic rift that erupted in October.
‘Neutrality of Lebanon’
“We demand the organization of elections on time and call for a massive participation in Lebanon and abroad,” the patriarch said. His call comes at a time when “maneuvers to postpone the elections are multiplying instead of the preparations for the elections are increasing," he denounced. This issue has been "raised by friends of Lebanon who have issued stern statements warning Lebanese officials and others not to change the date of the elections,” Rai said. The international community has launched several calls that converge in this direction.
President Michel Aoun said Saturday that he feared a “cancellation” of the parliamentary elections due to lack of funds to organize the polls, while some observers accuse the ruling class, which is losing momentum, of wanting to postpone the deadline or even cancel it.
For the patriarch, “the elections, legislative or presidential, are the inevitable way for Lebanon to become a respected state again.”
“We will demonstrate that the electoral programs will focus on the resolution of social and economic causes, the neutrality of Lebanon, the organization of an international conference, the expanded decentralization, the limitation of the possession of weapons to the army, and the implementation of international resolutions,” he said.
According to Rai, the “dangerous” situation in which the country finds itself “requires a bold stand.” He added that “it is not by daily compromises that the people secure their future.”
The state should ‘assume its duties’
For his part, the Metropolitan bishop of the Greek Orthodox church Elias Audi deplored the imposition of new taxes that will weigh heavily on the Lebanese following the cabinet’s approval of the draft 2022 budget last Thursday.
“It is normal for the state to claim its rights, but after granting the citizen his rights and fulfilling his own duties,” he criticized, calling on the state to put an end to “the corruption of its administration” and to implement “a clear reform plan.”
The 2022 budget calls for new taxes and fee increases, in an effort to stem the economic and financial collapse in the country. However, the text needs Parliament’s approval before it can be signed into law. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed Thursday two meetings, on Feb. 21 and 22, to discuss several laws, including the finance law.