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Lebanon’s Interior Minister Says Willing to Hold Parliamentary Elections Earlier

President Michel Aoun met with Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi at Baabda Palace on Tuesday. (NNA)
President Michel Aoun met with Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi at Baabda Palace on Tuesday. (NNA)
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Lebanon’s Interior Minister Says Willing to Hold Parliamentary Elections Earlier

President Michel Aoun met with Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi at Baabda Palace on Tuesday. (NNA)
President Michel Aoun met with Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi at Baabda Palace on Tuesday. (NNA)

Lebanon’s new Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said that preparations were underway to hold parliamentary elections next year.

In a statement, the office of the Lebanese Presidency said that President Michel Aoun met with Mawlawi on Thursday to discuss the security situation and the preparations for the polls, which are scheduled to be held in May.

In response to a question about whether there was an amendment to the proposed date for the elections, the minister replied: “If elections will be held in March, a legal amendment must be issued.”

“I have no objections to holding elections in March in accordance with the law. The parliament’s mandate ends on May 21, and we have committed, in the ministerial policy statement, to hold the vote before this date.”

Asked about the role of expatriates in the elections, Mawlawi said: “There is a committee, according to the law, formed by the ministries of interior and foreign affairs to discuss this issue.”

On whether the electoral magnetic card will be adopted, the minister told reporters at the Baabda Palace: “If there is an intention to launch this card, and if the government proceeds with it, we welcome that. This will speed up the counting process.”

He continued: “We are currently conducting an assessment of the cost of the elections to be presented to concerned parties to find out how to secure the funds.”

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Erdogan Says Türkiye Can ‘Crush’ All Terrorists in Syria

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
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Erdogan Says Türkiye Can ‘Crush’ All Terrorists in Syria

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Wednesday that Türkiye had the power and ability to "crush" all terrorists in Syria, including ISIS and Kurdish militants, while urging all countries to "take their hands off" Syria.

Since last month's fall of Bashar al-Assad, Türkiye has said repeatedly it was time for the Kurdish YPG militia to disband. Ankara considers the group, which spearheads the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a terrorist organization.

Ankara has said the new Syrian administration must be given an opportunity to address the YPG presence, but also threatened to mount a new cross-border operation against the militia based in northeast Syria if its demands are not met.

Speaking in parliament, Erdogan said the YPG was the biggest problem in Syria now, and added that the group would not be able to escape its inevitable end unless it lays down its arms.

"Regarding fabricated excuses like ISIS, these have no convincing side anymore," Erdogan said, referring to the US position that the YPG was a key partner against ISIS in Syria and that it plays a vital role guarding prison camps where the extremist militants are kept.

"If there is really a fear of the ISIS threat in Syria and the region, the biggest power that has the will and power to resolve this issue is Türkiye," he said.

"Everyone should take their hands off Syria and we, along with our Syrian siblings, will crush the heads of ISIS, the YPG and other terrorist organizations in a short time."

Türkiye has repeatedly asked its NATO ally the United States to halt support for the SDF, and has said the new administration in Syria had offered to take over the management of the prisons. 

Later on Wednesday , Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara is ready to provide support to the new Syrian administration for the management of ISIS camps in the country.

"As we have always said, we are also ready to provide the necessary assistance to the new administration in the management of ISIS camps and prisons," Fidan said.

Speaking in Ankara following his meeting with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, Fidan also said diplomatic efforts will continue to ensure the removal of sanctions against Syria.