US congresspeople send letter urging Biden administration to ensure Lebanon holds elections on time

BEIRUT — Congressmen Gregory Meeks, David Cicilline, Darrell Issa, Darin LaHood and 20 other members of the United States Congress have sent a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to “urge the administration to call upon and work with the Lebanese officials to ensure that the parliamentary elections scheduled for May 15, 2022, are carried out on time, transparently and free of corruption.”

Here’s what we know:

    • “With a dueling political and economic crisis, the May parliamentary elections are the first opportunity the Lebanese people have to cast their ballots since protests in the country began in 2019 after years of corruption and mismanagement,” the letter said in reference to the Oct. 17, 2019, nationwide protests.

    • The letter also said “We concur with Ambassador Dorothy Shea that in holding elections on time, there is ‘no wiggle room,’ and that the failure to do so should result in swift condemnation for those responsible for any delay.”

    • The House Foreign Affairs Committee, headed by Meeks, quoted him in a tweet as saying saying “Proud to lead a bipartisan letter with Congressmen David Cicilline, Darrell Issa, Darin LaHood and 20 other members of Congress urging the Biden Administration to support free, fair, & transparent elections in Lebanon next month. This is critical to Lebanon's future and its people.”

    • The holding of Lebanon’s parliamentary elections, scheduled for May 15, is a key demand of the international community as a step towards achieving reforms by the government as the country struggles with an unprecedented economic crisis.