Salam: Successful Municipal Elections Demonstrate Ability to Elect President
Prime Minister Tammam Salam stated on Thursday that the success in holding the municipal elections have thwarted allegations against the Lebanese incompetency in staging the process in a peaceful and civilized manner.
“The state and its institutions are capable of running and protecting the most challenging electoral difficulties. The municipal and mayoral elections have dropped claims that the Lebanese are incapable of holding the municipal elections,” said Salam in a speech delivered at the Arab Economic Forum held in Beirut.
“It seems possible now that we can build on this achievement and progress forward toward rebuilding our constitutional pillars, mainly the presidency and drafting a new modern electoral law,” he added.
On Sunday, the first round of municipal elections concluded in Beirut in the eastern Bekaa Valley and Baalbek-al-Hermel, in the first vote of any kind in Lebanon since the last municipal polls in 2010.
On the vacuum at the presidential post, Salam said: “In two weeks from now, we will sadly mark two years of presidential vacuum which represents a great offense for Lebanon and the Lebanese. It is basically the reason behind the suffering and stumbling of the (state's) institutions.”
Lebanon has been in a state of presidential vacuum since the term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014.
Salam concluded by voicing hopes that the upcoming municipal elections in other Lebanese regions go as smoothly as in the capital.
The elections in Mount Lebanon will be held on May 15.
Elections in south Lebanon and Nabatieh are set for May 22 and north Lebanon and Akkar for May 29.
Source: Naharnet
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