Minister of the Interior and Municipalities Nohad el-Machnouk announced Saturday his candidacy for the next legislative elections scheduled for May 6, 2018, assuring that there is no reason to justify the postponement of the upcoming elections.

"There is neither any reason nor desire by any political party to postpone the elections, and there is no capability of any political side to take responsibility for such postponement," Machnouk said during a Television interview.

Over the adopted security measures during the holidays, Machnouk asserted that "all security apparatuses will maintain full and high readiness to secure a safe festive week for all the Lebanese."

"On the occasion of Christmas, measures will be intensified around all churches and places of worship (about 1,200 churches)...As for New Year's Day, there will be strictness in dealing with excessive speeding and preventing driving under the influence of alcohol, alongside wide security deployment on main roads and near nightclubs and hotels," Machnouk added reassuringly.

Regarding the relationship between the Future Bloc and the Lebanese Forces Party, the Minister stressed that "both sides are committed to communication and deliberation for the sake of reaching a political agreement

Source: NNA