In an interview on MTV talk show Sar El-Wa’et (It’s about time), caretaker Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Judge Bassam Mawlawi, touched on various subjects at the forefront of the Lebanese socio-political landscape.
Concerning the municipal elections, Mawlawi stated that administrative and planning efforts were made by his Ministry, but he declared that “all efforts were blocked on a political level by all parties”, with the exception of the Lebanese Forces and Change MPs who appealed the decision in front of the Constitutional Council.
Commenting on Ghada Aoun’s discharge from the Judiciary, he decried Aoun’s lack of respect for the Judicial code of ethics and the obligation of reservation. He goes on to explain that “her request for help from the international community makes no sense, as she should initially request domestic help.”
The Syrian refugees issue was another subject brought up during the episode. Mawlawi called for their repatriation and went on to express his rejection of any dialogue about their naturalization.
Concerning international organizations’ request to protect the refugees, he stated: “Refugee data in exchange for the protection of refugees.”
