Lebanon’s parliament postpones municipal elections

By Wassim Seif El Din

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AA) - The Lebanese parliament on Tuesday decided to postpone the country's municipal elections for one year amid funding shortages.

According to an Anadolu reporter, the assembly approved the extension of the term of the municipal and mayoral councils for a maximum of one year till May 31, 2024.

The vote was scheduled to take place on May 31, 2023.

This was the second time for the municipal elections to be postponed due to technical and logistical obstacles.

On April 12, Lebanese Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab said that holding the Lebanese local elections in May was almost impossible due to difficulties in securing the needed funds.

Since 2019, Lebanon has been facing a crippling economic crisis that, according to the World Bank, is one of the worst the world has seen in modern times.

The country has been unable to elect a new president since October 2022 to replace former President Michel Aoun amid differences among political rivals.

Lebanon has also been without a fully functioning government since May last year, with Prime Minister Najib Mikati and his Cabinet having limited powers in their current caretaker status.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara