Activists Rally at Interior Ministry Demanding Parliamentary Polls

Activists from the We Want Accountability civil society campaign staged a sit-in Wednesday outside the Interior Ministry in Sanayeh to urge authorities to organize parliamentary elections.

The sit-in, which was surrounded by a heavy police deployment, was held under the slogan “The Excuses for Extension Have Fallen and We Want Parliamentary Polls”.

The campaign meant to refer to the first round of municipal and mayoral elections that was held in Beirut and the Bekaa on Sunday, the first elections of any kind in Lebanon since the last municipal vote in 2010.

The country has not had a president for the past two years nor voted for a parliament since 2009 due to sharp differences among the rival political parties. The legislature has extended its own term twice, citing security concerns.

“Seeing as the staging of municipal polls has proved that there are no extraordinary circumstances, the continued failure to organize parliamentary elections by this ruling class turns it into a rogue authority that is violating the Constitution,” We Want Accountability said in a statement recited at the sit-in.

“This usurper ruling class, with both its legislative and executive councils, must take the necessary measures in order to stage the parliamentary polls immediately and according to a new and proportional electoral law that respects all aspects of citizenship,” the campaign added.

A new civic campaign won a third of votes in Sunday's municipal elections in the capital, despite all council seats going to the established political class.

Beirut Madinati emerged this year with the aim to take on traditional parties in the politically deadlocked country's first elections in six years.

Experts hailed Beirut Madinati's results as a victory despite it not winning any of the city council's 24 seats.

Civil society in Lebanon gained momentum after protests last summer over the country's unprecedented waste disposal crisis.

Y.R.