Hajjar says timely elections 'more likely than not' but sources suggest otherwise

As Cabinet convened Thursday at the Grand Serail, Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar said it is more likely than not that the parliamentary elections will be held on time, with the number of candidates rising to 30.

"The ministry has not received any request to postpone," he told MTV before the cabinet session.

While many media reports, published Thursday, confirmed al Hajjar's remarks, stating that the likelihood of a postponement is decreasing, al-Jadeed reported that Parliament is inclined to vote for a term extension and that votes are being tallied.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is not in favor of a postponement, said again that the elections will be held on time. He reaffirmed to al-Joumhouria newspaper that "nothing will prevent the elections" and that "there will be no postponement and no extension."

Meanwhile, a senior official told the daily that the postponement is not a foreign request as recently claimed by many politicians and media reports. It is rather domestically driven, he said.

"Some Lebanese parties are worried about the elections outcome and have sought the help of their (foreign) allies," the source went on to say. "Some — but not all — foreign parties responded positively to the idea of a postponement."

The source did not name the foreign parties, but local ad-Diyar newspaper reported Thursday that the U.S. has not yet given a clear stance on whether the elections should proceed as planned.

The report said President Joseph Aoun, like Speaker Berri, is committed to holding the elections on time. It claimed that Berri and Aoun's advisor discussed the matter in a meeting Wednesday and agreed on proceeding with the vote as planned.