Democratic Legitimacy Requires Respect for Constitutional Deadlines

Restoring the confidence of Lebanese citizens and the international community in the Lebanese economy is closely linked to the effectiveness of constitutional institutions that enjoy full legitimacy, and to the ability of the state to manage and resolve crises - not merely to postpone constitutional deadlines.

Respecting constitutional timelines and holding elections on schedule constitute the fundamental pillar of the legitimacy and continuity of democratic institutions.

While the security and wartime circumstances Lebanon is experiencing have imposed an exceptional extension of the mandate of Parliament, the two-year prolongation represents a clear departure from the spirit and principles of the Constitution, raising legitimate questions about the country’s commitment to democratic governance.

Such a measure must not become a mechanism for simply managing the crisis or a pretext for suspending democratic life. On the contrary, it should serve as a serious impetus to work toward exiting the crisis through the restoration of the state’s full role and authority over the entire national territory, alongside the adoption of the political and economic reforms necessary to restore stability and confidence in the country.

Moreover, the prolonged mandate contradicts the spirit of the Presidential Oath and the commitments outlined in the ministerial statement, and sends a negative signal to the international community, which has been expecting the regular functioning of constitutional institutions and the launch of a credible reform process.

Parliamentary elections must therefore be held immediately once the exceptional circumstances that led to their postponement have ended.

Democratic legitimacy can only be sustained through respect for constitutional deadlines and the renewal of parliamentary representation. Without this, institutions will remain subject to doubt and risk losing a significant part of their legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of both Lebanese citizens and the international community.