.jpg)
Baroud: I Hope to be Last Interior Minister Dealing With Elections, I Will Apply The Law up to Announcing Poll Results
Interior Minister Ziad Baroud said he hopes to be the last minister of the Interior to deal with Lebanese parliamentary elections.
In a press conference on Saturday, Baroud said: “ We have for the first time an elections supervisory authority. I hope that this [body] would become the [permanent] coordinator of [future] electoral processes.”
Baroud Stressed that security forces would not enter into a confrontation with voters “because the aim behind security on the ground is to control the electoral process, maintain security and prevent problems.”
“I have attempted to build a relationship based on trust with all political parties, and I shall attempt to maintain this relationship following the parliamentary elections,” Baroud said adding that he is not a political party and has no political aspirations.
“ I am not running for office. However, I have my own political opinion. I [know] that some are upset because I am applying the law.” He said.
The minister pledged to announce election results once he officially receives the final outcome.
Baroud said that he is aware that some identity cards are forged saying that was widespread in the past. He paid tribute for parliament in issuing a law creating a new identity card making forgeries much more difficult and a crime punishable by law.
“Following the elections, the announcement of [poll] results and following June 20th a new national government would be formed. This is my ambition too.” Baroud said.