Aoun sends electoral law amendments back

Lebanese President Michel Aoun yesterday sent a law amending legislative election rules back to parliament for reconsideration, a development that could affect Lebanon’s ability to hold an election on the March 27 date agreed to this week.

Lebanon’s parliament had voted on Tuesday to hold an election at that time, giving Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government only a few months to try to secure an IMF recovery plan. “Shortening the constitutional deadline that comes ahead of the elections exposes the electoral process to the voters absence due to climate and logistical reasons,” Aoun said in a statement.