Head of the Arab League Says Aoun Is Committed to Holding Elections on Time

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Monday from Baabda that there is “a great determination from President Michel Aoun to organize the elections,” at a time when some people fear the postponement of the vote.

Here’s what we know:

    • Gheit assured that the Arab League is ready to send a team to supervise the legislative elections on May 15, according to local media outlet Al-Nashra.

    • In relation to the situation with Syrian refugees, Gheit said during the meeting that Lebanon had paid a great price for more than ten years due to the presence of thousands of refugees in its territory. Finally, he announced that a consultation meeting of Arab ministers will be held in Beirut in the coming months.

    • Aboul Gheit has yet to meet with Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

    • Officials from the Arab League have recently shown support for Lebanon. Deputy Secretary-General Houssam Zaki had assured that the pan-Arab organization “supports the Kuwaiti initiative,” aimed at resolving the diplomatic crisis between Lebanon and the Gulf countries.

    • Since October 2021, relations between Lebanon and the Gulf monarchies have been at an all-time low following statements by former Information Minister George Kurdahi on Saudi Arabia's role in the war in Yemen. Kuwait had sent in January a list of conditions Lebanon must fulfill in order to begin a thaw in relations.