MP Salim Sayegh said parliamentary elections must be held on schedule to allow voters to hold their representatives accountable, warning that unresolved legal, political and security challenges could still jeopardize the vote if not urgently addressed.

In a televised interview, Sayegh said adherence to constitutional deadlines is a firm and longstanding position of the Kataeb Party, which he represents.

“Elections have to be held on time so people can make their voices heard and hold accountable those they elected,” he said. “Out of a sense of national responsibility, we insist on upholding the Constitution and respecting the deadlines set by law.”

At the same time, Sayegh acknowledged what he described as serious obstacles. Speaking “as an observer, not as a political official,” he pointed to legal and constitutional complications, including what he characterized as a pattern of blame-shifting between the government and parliament.

He urged both branches to work together to resolve the electoral impasse rather than engage in what he called a “ping-pong game” of mutual accusations.

“Passing the buck has always hurt Lebanon,” he said. “What’s needed is shared responsibility to overcome the legal and procedural hurdles.”

Sayegh also cited objective concerns tied to the security environment and the broader political climate.

“How can elections be held when the state still does not have exclusive control over weapons?” he asked.

He further criticized what he described as conflicting messages from state institutions regarding expatriate voting, saying the mixed signals had discouraged members of the diaspora from participating.

“There’s no clear message to expatriates after all the contradictory statements about their vote,” he said.

Sayegh dismissed claims that foreign diplomats were pressing for a postponement.

“We met with ambassadors last week, and none of them asked us to push for delaying the elections,” he said. “Lebanon should not put itself in a position where it appears to be waiting for instructions from abroad.”

“If time is squandered once again, it will come at Lebanon’s expense,” he added, calling for the swift implementation of the Lebanese Army’s plan to consolidate state authority over all weapons.

According to Sayegh, the political landscape has shifted compared to previous election cycles. While earlier votes were held amid sharp divisions over the issue of arms, he said there is now near-consensus across much of the political spectrum about the risks posed by weapons outside state control.

“There is no longer political or national cover for illegal arms,” he said, pointing to cabinet decisions and international agreements calling for disarmament.

“Keeping them today runs counter to Lebanese public sentiment and the national interest. Holding elections under these circumstances is not the same as in the past.”

While expressing respect for the advisory opinion of the Legislative and Consultative Commission, Sayegh said it did not provide adequate justification regarding the disputed “District 16.” He also cautioned that even raising the prospect of postponement sends the wrong signal.

“The moment you start entertaining that logic, it suggests there’s no real intention to hold elections,” he said. “Double standards have become a defining feature for many.”

More broadly, Sayegh argued that Lebanon’s political center has shrunk amid growing polarization of what he described as an “existential” nature. Fundamental questions about the country’s future, he said, should not be deferred until after the vote.

“We need to agree on what Lebanon’s true unity means and bring Hezbollah fully into the Lebanese state framework,” he said. “At a time of dangerous imbalance, dialogue and safeguarding civil peace must take precedence over simply waiting for elections.”

On potential alliances, Sayegh said there is no final agreement with independent lawmaker Neemat Frem or with the Lebanese Forces. He outlined three possible scenarios: alliances in specific districts, broader alliances with limited exceptions, or comprehensive nationwide alliances regardless of electoral arithmetic. His preference, he said, would be for a political understanding across districts grounded in shared positions and electoral considerations.

Addressing tensions with MP Farid Khazen, Sayegh rejected what he described as superficial reconciliations.

Turning to U.S. threats toward Iran, Sayegh said Lebanon should use shifting regional dynamics to strengthen state institutions and preserve a minimum level of national consensus. He noted that many Lebanese had quietly welcomed the weakening of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and that several political actors had revised their positions in favor of limiting weapons to the state.

“The ball is now in Hezbollah’s court,” he said. “Do not give Israel another pretext to strike Lebanon. Let Lebanese institutions defend your political presence — not a military apparatus that has proven to be a failure.”

He reiterated his opposition to Iranian interference in Lebanese affairs and criticized what he called the “political theatrics” of the Iranian ambassador during a recent visit to Keserwan, saying the envoy represents a system that has inflicted damage on Lebanon.