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Abbas Chairs Meeting to Discuss Final Decision on Holding Elections

The arrival of representatives of "Hamas" to register their electoral list in Gaza, last month (Reuters)
The arrival of representatives of "Hamas" to register their electoral list in Gaza, last month (Reuters)
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Abbas Chairs Meeting to Discuss Final Decision on Holding Elections

The arrival of representatives of "Hamas" to register their electoral list in Gaza, last month (Reuters)
The arrival of representatives of "Hamas" to register their electoral list in Gaza, last month (Reuters)

Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Ahmed Majdalani revealed that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will chair a meeting of the Palestinian political factions in the coming days to discuss the final options on holding legislative elections.

“There will be an expanded meeting of the leadership to assess the situation,” said Majdalani.

“As part of that assessment, we will make a decision regarding the elections,” he added.

Majdalani told the Voice of Palestine Radio that the Palestinian factions are constantly holding talks over the matter, especially regarding holding elections in Jerusalem.

“No Palestinian would accept the bartering of Jerusalem for the election. Jerusalem is a national cause,” he noted.

For his part, Abbas spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh affirmed on Wednesday that the elections will take place as scheduled.

"Nothing will change nor will there be a disruption that goes against the Palestinian interest, since these elections are a Palestinian demand and all disruptions from here or there are not worth anything."

He affirmed that all parties were exerting efforts in this regard, including the European Union.

According to Abu Rudeineh, the Palestinian leadership has not heard from the US on pressuring Israel to allow holding the elections in Jerusalem.

The Palestinians are scheduled to head to their first national vote in 15 years on May 22. However, Israel refuses to respond to the requests of holding elections in Jerusalem and recently banned electoral events in the city.

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Arab World

Lebanese President Faces Domestic, Foreign Challenges

Newly-elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun poses for a picture with his family at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, January 9, 2025. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
Newly-elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun poses for a picture with his family at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, January 9, 2025. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
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Lebanese President Faces Domestic, Foreign Challenges

Newly-elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun poses for a picture with his family at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, January 9, 2025. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
Newly-elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun poses for a picture with his family at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, January 9, 2025. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS

The election of a new president in Lebanon does not mean the country has come out of the economic and political crises which have gutted it for years. Yet Thursday’s vote marks the beginning of a new phase that carries many challenges for the president and the upcoming government.

It is Joseph Aoun’s responsibility now to appoint a prime minister following binding parliamentary consultations and then form the Cabinet together with the PM.

According to observers, Aoun’s term should carry a roadmap to salvage the country, and a clear plan to address crises and domestic and foreign challenges.

However, there is no magic wand to solve Lebanon’s entire crises.

Instead, Aoun needs a unified working team that should draft a clear ministerial statement that reflects the President’s inaugural speech and his pledge of a “new era” for Lebanon.

“The president's speech constitutes a detailed program for governance. However, his program needs a cabinet capable of implementing it,” former Minister Ibrahim Najjar told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Najjar described the new President as an honest, clean and courageous Lebanese man.

“His election must be followed by the formation of a bold cabinet with new faces, capable of working and making achievements,” he said.

“The Lebanese people expect President Aoun to change the quota-based mentality of politicians. They hope his term will help remove old political figures, who are rooted in the Lebanese quagmire,” the former minister noted.

Former MP Fares Souaid told Asharq Al-Awsat that Aoun’s first task is to implement the Constitution and the National Accord document.

“In the early 1990s, the Constitution was no longer being implemented due to the Syrian occupation of Lebanon. In 2005, the Constitution was again ignored because of Iranian arms.”

Therefore, Soueid said, the Lebanese eagerly expect this new era to constitute a real opportunity for the implementation of both documents.

For years, Lebanon has failed to properly implement its Constitution and UN resolutions, mainly because some political parties had considered their implementation as “a target against their so-called resistance.”

“With the election of President Joseph Aoun, Lebanon has opened a blank page that could meet the aspirations of the Lebanese people, and write a new chapter in the country’s history,” Najjar said.

According to Soueid, Aoun has a task to return Lebanon to its Arab identity. “This is slowly beginning to show through the decline of Iranian influence in the region,” he said.

Also, Soueid said, the new President should mend Lebanon’s relations with the international community by implementing all UN resolutions.

Addressing Parliament and Lebanese people with an acceptance speech, Aoun on Thursday vowed that the Lebanese authorities will have the monopoly on arms and will be committed to a strong state that will extend its sovereignty over the entire territory.

“This is in line with UN resolutions, which if implemented, will bring Lebanon back to the Arab and international scene,” Soueid said.