Prime Minister Najib Miqati has criticized "unprecedented dollar amounts" that have been pumped into Lebanon in the past few days, as Lebanon prepares for its parliamentary elections in May 15.

"There are violations," Miqati said in a televised interview, as he praised Minister of Interior Bassam al-Mawlawi for "doing a great job" to achieve the elections successfully.

President Michel Aoun has stepped into the ongoing debate in the country over electoral spending, days after a war of words erupted over the issue between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces.

A senior Shiite cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Qabalan, on Tuesday announced that voting in the upcoming parliamentary elections is a “national and religious duty,” as he called for “purging state administrations and institutions of U.S. influence.”

The Lebanese Forces on Monday snapped back at Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil over the issue of electoral spending, blasting him as the "thief of the republic."

President Michel Aoun on Sunday greeted Lebanese workers as the country marked Labor Day, pledging that he will continue to work for “transforming Lebanon’s economy from a rentier economy into a productive one.”

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has lamented that a “problem” happens whenever he wants to visit a certain region, warning that the FPM may boycott the May 15 parliamentary elections if authorities do not protect freedom of movement for him and the other FPM candidates.

Unrest erupted Saturday in Akkar over a visit to the northern region by Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday announced that Lebanon’s upcoming parliamentary elections will not prevent his group from responding to any Israeli hostile act.

“I tell the Zionists that their planned exercises do not scare us but we will be prepared,” Nasrallah said in a speech marking Quds Day, referring to Israeli military exercises that will begin in early May.

President Michel Aoun on Friday presided over a meeting for the Higher Defense Council at the Baabda Palace that was dedicated to discussing the preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

“The heads of the security agencies stressed at the Baabda meeting full readiness for imposing security during the May 15 elections as the army commander said that the army enjoys full preparedness,” MTV reported.

A ministerial committee on Syrian refugees said Friday that Lebanon cannot "bear this burden" anymore.

The ministers convened at the grand Serail in a session chaired by Prime Minister Najib Miqati.