MPs from the Kataeb party, the Renewal Bloc and the Coalition for Change have lodged appeals against the law extending the terms of office of municipal councils, following in the Lebanese Forces’ footsteps.
In their submission to the Constitutional Council, the MPs emphasized “the flagrant violation of the Constitution’s introduction, as well as Article 7, particularly the constitutional principles related to democracy, the right to vote, elections, and the principle of the separation of powers.”
They also found it “inconceivable to invoke the pretext of exceptional circumstances to extend the term of office of municipal councils, as the conflict zones are limited to certain regions of the country,” referring to the military conflict between Hezbollah and Israel on the southern border.
The parliamentarians also expressed concern about “the danger of postponing municipal elections for the third consecutive year since 2022.”
They highlighted “the risk of the extension being dragged to 2027, especially as the next parliamentary elections are, in principle, scheduled for 2026.”
The law, passed by MPs on April 25, extends the terms of office of municipal councils and mukhtars until May 31, 2025.
On May 2, the Lebanese Forces appealed to the Constitutional Council to overturn the law.
In their submission to the Constitutional Council, the MPs emphasized “the flagrant violation of the Constitution’s introduction, as well as Article 7, particularly the constitutional principles related to democracy, the right to vote, elections, and the principle of the separation of powers.”
They also found it “inconceivable to invoke the pretext of exceptional circumstances to extend the term of office of municipal councils, as the conflict zones are limited to certain regions of the country,” referring to the military conflict between Hezbollah and Israel on the southern border.
The parliamentarians also expressed concern about “the danger of postponing municipal elections for the third consecutive year since 2022.”
They highlighted “the risk of the extension being dragged to 2027, especially as the next parliamentary elections are, in principle, scheduled for 2026.”
The law, passed by MPs on April 25, extends the terms of office of municipal councils and mukhtars until May 31, 2025.
On May 2, the Lebanese Forces appealed to the Constitutional Council to overturn the law.
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