President Joseph Aoun followed up on the conduct of the third round of municipal and local elections on Sunday, encouraging citizens in Beirut, the Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel to head to the polls “with conviction, freedom, and responsibility.”

Aoun, who is in Rome to attend Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass at the Vatican, received detailed briefings from the Ministries of Interior and Defense, as well as the Lebanese Army Command, on the security, administrative, and logistical measures in place to ensure the elections run smoothly.

In a statement, Aoun called for strong voter turnout, emphasizing that citizens are not merely choosing candidates, but selecting the future architects of their towns, cities, and villages. He described municipal councils as “miniature governments” responsible for overseeing local development and day-to-day affairs.

He stressed that a high turnout would signal a collective commitment to change and an active role in shaping the country’s future.