Latest news with #Al-Hajjar
Al Manar
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
Lebanese Vote in Third Round of Municipal Elections: Beirut, Bekaa, Baalbeck-Hermel
Lebanese citizens are casting their ballots in the third round of municipal and mayoral elections on Sunday, with the vote taking place this week in the governorates of Beirut, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel. Polling stations opened early at 7:00 a.m. (Beirut time), with Lebanese officials being among citizens who casted their ballots across the three governorates. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed confidence that 'the people of Beirut are capable of ensuring that everyone is represented in the municipal council.' Speaking after casting his vote in one of the city's high schools, the Lebanese premier emphasized the urgent need for development in the capital. 'Beirut needs development and improvement, starting with the road conditions, traffic jams, and garbage management,' he noted. Salam also hoped that the voter turnout will be high, expressing support for any joint efforts that would serve the city of Beirut with clear a development program. Salam, meanwhile, inspected this morning the central operations room monitoring the electoral process at the Ministry of Interior, accompanied by Defense and Interior Ministers Michel Mnassah and Ahmad Al-Hajjar. 'The electoral process has begun in all polling stations, and there have been no security issues so far. All missing items have been secured for all polling stations except for one, and a ballot box is being secured after detecting that the existing box was broken,' Al-Hajjar said at the HQ of the Interior Ministry in Beirut's Hamra area. Al-Hajjar also said that the municipal elections are to take place on time next Saturday. 'We have made the necessary contacts, and Lebanon does not wait for guarantees from the Israeli enemy, but provides guarantees to its own people.' Later on Sunday, the Ministry of Interior released several updates on the voter turnout rates in the three governorates. In its latest update at noon on Sunday, the voter turnout rate reached 14.43% in Beirut, 31.39% in Bekaa and 32.25% in Baalbek-Hermel.
Al Manar
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
Polls Close in North Lebanon and Akkar Governorate as Vote Counting Begins
Polling stations closed at 7 PM Sunday in the second phase of Lebanon's municipal and local elections, held across North Lebanon and Akkar Governorate. Ballot counting began immediately after the close. The Interior Ministry announced the final voter turnout across the two governorates as follows: Tripoli (25.04%), Zgharta (38.77%), Bsharri (32.03%), Minieh-Dennieh (49.96%), Koura (38.92%), and Batroun (48.26%). North Lebanon recorded 614,295 registered voters, with 220,562 casting ballots—a turnout of 35.90%. In Akkar, 139,363 of 294,647 voters participated, reflecting a higher turnout of 47.30%. Interior Minister: Security Forces Responded Promptly to Incidents Speaking to reporters shortly before polls closed, Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar said the number of election-related incidents exceeded the official complaints filed. These ranged from administrative to security issues, with rapid intervention by security forces in coordination with the army. He attributed many disturbances to supporters trying to protect their candidates and urged the public to remain calm and responsible during the vote count. 🇱🇧 Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam monitors the vote count from the Interior Ministry's operations room after polls close, joined by Deputy PM Tarek Mitri#Lebanon #elections #عكار #طرابلس — ManarWeb (@WebManar) May 11, 2025 Tripoli Turnout and Alleged Violations Commenting on the low turnout in Tripoli, Al-Hajjar noted that the number of candidate lists was significant and that the city saw some electoral activity late in the day. He stressed that this election is crucial for reinforcing the authority of the state and advancing development. Regarding allegations of vote buying, Al-Hajjar confirmed that security agencies had detained individuals in two confirmed cases and that broader investigations are underway. Staff Absences Addressed On reports of missing election staff, the minister cited reasons including reluctance, travel difficulty, and low financial compensation. He said replacements were secured and expressed hope for full staff commitment in the remaining election phases in Beirut, the South, and the Bekaa.
National News
09-04-2025
- Politics
- National News
Hajjar inspects Directorate of Local Administrations, Intelligence Interception Unit
NNA - Interior and Municipalities Minister, Ahmad al-Hajjar, on Wednesday conducted a visit to the General Directorate of Local Administrations and Councils, where he met with Acting Director General Faten Abou Hassan, department heads, and staff. Al-Hajjar listened to their demands and the directorate's administrative and logistical needs. Al-Hajjar commended 'the role played by the directorate across all its divisions in diligently maintaining and activating operations, and in serving as a key reference for municipalities in enhancing and advancing local governance, especially as we approach a critical electoral period in which the Lebanese people are counting on their right to choose their representatives in municipal and mukhtar councils.' The Minister further emphasized 'the importance of following up on citizens' affairs and administrative procedures,' noting that 'the administration will undergo modernization and development to better serve the public.' Al-Hajjar also inspected the headquarters of the telephone intelligence interception unit, where he held a meeting with Colonel Engineer Khaled Youssef and the technical team operating the system. ======R.H.
Asharq Al-Awsat
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanese Interior Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Holding Municipal Elections on Time
Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar has stressed commitment to holding the municipal elections on time, saying administrative preparations are underway to organize the polls in May. 'The government is determined to hold this election according to the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and democracy,' Al-Hajjar told Asharq Al-Awsat. "As for organizing elections in border villages and towns that have been destroyed (in Israeli bombardment), we are working on preparing a study on an appropriate solution." In April of last year, the Lebanese Parliament agreed on a one-year postponement of the municipal elections due to the Israel-Hezbollah war. The parliament had previously postponed the polls twice; the first in 2022 and the second in 2023. The last municipal elections, which are held every six years in Lebanon, were about nine years ago. According to the Lebanese Interior Ministry, the number of municipalities in the 2016 elections (for mukhtars or heads of municipalities) stood at 1,029, distributed across eight governorates. The number of mukhtars stands at 3,018, distributed across Lebanon. Information International estimates that there are 640 legally recognized municipalities that are currently inactive, while 125 municipalities have been dissolved. The number of municipalities in southern Lebanon is 271. Party Mobilization Lebanese political parties have recently mobilized in preparation for the elections. According to a source close to the Hezbollah-Amal alliance, or the so-called Shiite duo, preparations have started based on an agreement signed years ago between the two parties regarding the distribution of shares in municipalities. Sources from the Lebanese Forces party also confirmed that they are "fully prepared to participate in the municipal elections," telling Asharq Al-Awsat that they 'now have a clear vision for fighting this battle." Preparations within the Free Patriotic Movement, however, appear slower.
LBCI
16-02-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Lebanese interior minister says Lebanon is committed to reform, urges regional support
Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar told the Arab Interior Ministers' Council in Tunisia that "Lebanon remains burdened by an ongoing economic and financial crisis and looks forward to the support of its brothers." He emphasized that "we are determined to move forward on the path of reform and recovery." Al-Hajjar noted, "technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, pose the threat of new types of crimes, requiring us to develop innovative and effective methods to curb their rapid spread." He added, "I invite you to join us in Beirut, the 'Mother of Laws,' and to support us in rebuilding Lebanon as a nation open to all cultures."
