Prime Minister Najib Miqati officially announced Monday that he will not run for the upcoming parliamentary elections, as he called for heavy participation in the polls.

“Because I believe in the inevitability of change and in the need to make way for the new generation… I announce that I will not nominate myself for the parliamentary elections, wishing success for everyone,” Miqati said in a televised address.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stressed Monday emphasized that the parliamentary elections will be held on time on May 15, as he warned of foreign attempts to “change Lebanon’s identity” through the elections.

“We stress that the elections will be held on May 15 after the fall of all the amendment, postponement and procrastination attempts,” Berri said in a televised address to announce Amal Movement’s candidates for the elections.

The Islamic State had planned to assassinate French President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to Lebanon in September 2020, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday.

The daily said it has learned that the IS group had also been planning to assassinate ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil.

On March 14, that marks the date of the anti-Syrian 2005 Cedar Revolution, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea launched the LF's electoral campaign.

"We want and we can" Geagea said, urging the Lebanese to vote for the LF, after a series of teasing billboards said that "some can but don't want to," and "some want to but can't."

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has stressed on Lebanon's deeply-rooted Arab affiliation.

He told the PSP's al-Anbaa news portal, in remarks published Monday, that fixing the relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council is a "high priority."

Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit urged Monday the international community to support Lebanon.

He mentioned, after a meeting with President Michel Aoun at the Baabda Palace, the world's "double standards" in dealing with the Ukrainian crisis and with the Lebanese crisis.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has urged the Saudi and Gulf leaders to support Lebanon "as they have always done in the past."

Geagea told Nidaa al-Watan newspaper, in remarks published Monday, that the "one and only solution" for Lebanon is to get back the support of the sisterly Gulf countries, especially the support of KSA.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday reiterated his call for the return of the displaced Syrians to their country.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Sunday ruled out the possible postponement of the May 15 parliamentary elections.

“In every moment they are trying to postpone or torpedo the elections, using many ways, including the megacenters proposal, which was not approved in Cabinet. But this does not mean that they have given up and their attempts will continue in a daily manner to postpone this juncture,” Geagea said during the announcement of the LF’s candidates for the Jezzine area.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil stressed Sunday that “victory over the enemy is not achieved through arms exclusively.”

“I’m with a solution for the sea border that would preserve our right to underwater gas,” Bassil said at the FPM’s seventh annual conference.