Lebanon’s Interior Minister Nohad al-Mashnouq said that a recent naturalization decree, which has sparked wide controversies, was “legal”. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, the minister stressed that the decree was redrafted to eliminate inconsistencies, and was issued in accordance with the agreed principles and standards, pointing out that the names published in the media were not included in the decree; they were rather aimed at targeting the decree and its signatories. Amid the growing controversy over the legality and legitimacy of the naturalization decree, which was issued just before the end of parliament’s term on May 20, Mashnouq announced that the Future Movement, led by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, would propose a bill to grant nationality to the spouses and children of Lebanese women, “without exceptions”. Such bill would open the door for further controversy, in light of a broad Christian objection over the fact that many Lebanese women are married to Palestinians and Syrians. In this regard, a Lebanese source told Asharq Al-Awsat that some 94,000 Lebanese women were married to foreigners, 74,000 of whom were Muslims, which could complicate matters to a large extent. Going back to the controversial naturalization decree, Mashnouq strongly denied that citizenship was offered in return for money, saying those who want to pay could get a European nationality with less than a million dollars. On Monday, Mashnouq met with the head of the General Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, to discuss President Michel Aoun’s request to make sure that all those included in the naturalization decree deserved the Lebanese nationality. Commenting on media reports that some of those naturalized were suspected to be involved in legal and security cases, the interior minister said he had asked the three competent authorities, namely the Lebanese Judicial Gazette, the Information Division and the INTERPOL, to review all names, make remarks and attach the relevant investigations and reports to their files. Mashnouq added that he attached the results of the investigations to the decree and referred them to Aoun and Hariri. Accordingly, several figures, who did not meet the legal requirements, were removed from the list. The interior minister later visited Aoun at the Baabda Palace, announcing that he had agreed with Ibrahim to “carry out a fourth review for further reassurance that the naturalization decree did not contain names that violate the laws. “Whoever has serious evidence, should submit it, instead of defaming the people, the Lebanese side, President Aoun and PM Hariri, and me,” he stressed. Three Lebanese parties, including the Kataeb, the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) and the Lebanese Forces (LF) have reiterated their willingness to challenge the decree. Representatives of those parties visited the Interior Ministry, asking to receive a copy of the decree in order to challenge it before the Higher Constitutional Council. MP Nadim Gemayel, representing the Kataeb, said following the meeting that his party would study three criteria: “First, the sectarian balance; second, the security and administrative scrutiny before the publication of the decree; and third, and most importantly, the criteria adopted for the selection of names.” In turn, PSP MP Faisal al-Sayegh said: “The Lebanese people have the right to know the added value of those naturalized,” stressing that important achievements should be “scientific and cultural, and not financial.” In a news conference held on Monday, Foreign Minsiter Jebran Bassil said the anti-decree campaign aims to target the president and his tenure. “Collective settlement is rejected; but the individual naturalization of those deserving it and fighting settlement is appropriate,” he added.