Aoun Returns Bill Amending Electoral Law to Parliament

President Michel Aoun on Friday returned a bill amending some articles of the electoral law to parliament for reevaluation, the Presidency said.

The President cited “violations” contained in the bill, such as bringing forward the elections date from May to March and depriving segments of voters from their electoral rights.

Aoun argued that holding the elections on March 27 might prevent some voters from casting ballots in mountainous areas due to possible storms and bad weather.

He also said that bringing the date forward would shorten the timeframe for the registration of expat voters while lamenting that the bill extraordinarily suspends the implementation of the electronic card system and axes the six new seats dedicated to expats.

Moreover, Aoun noted that the proposed date would deprive 10,685 citizens who turn 21 between Feb. 1 and March 30 from their right to vote.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri later in the day called on the joint parliamentary committees to meet on Tuesday to study Aoun’s returning of the bill.