Lebanese elections: a limited window for the forces of change

The low turnout at the polls frustrated hopes for a radical change in the new parliament, which the Lebanese elected yesterday (Sunday) in general elections, in which candidates competed for “sovereign” and living titles, which were characterized by violence and tension in many circles, specifically in Hezbollah’s areas of influence. .

The voter turnout was about 41 percent. Christian constituencies topped the turnout at the closing of most polling stations yesterday evening, as the districts of Mount Lebanon won the highest percentage of voting, while it fell to its lowest levels in Tripoli in the north, where the Sunni vote predominates, but in general it did not reach the percentage of voting that was achieved in The last cycle, and it reached 49.68% at the time in 2018.

Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said in a televised statement that “the voter turnout is not high,” noting that he “does not know whether this is the citizens’ choice or serves the political orientation of those who boycotted the elections,” declaring that the voter turnout in Mount Lebanon is the highest. And when he saw that “the long election day was acceptable in relation to the conditions in which we live,” he acknowledged that “the process was not excellent and we did what was required of us.” We made the necessary contacts.”

The violence that was monitored in circles where the “forces” and “Hezbollah” share popular influence is the highest, as the “forces” accused his opponent of assaulting his supporters, and the head of the “forces” Samir Geagea called the Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the Interior Minister to stop ” flagrant transgressions.

As of midnight yesterday, the picture of the results had not yet become clear, but it generally showed discouraging results for the “changers” who made an achievement by violating the list of the “Shiite duo”, i.e., “Hezbollah” and “Amal Movement” in Marjayoun, and it is supposed to be dissolved. The candidate of the Forces of Change, Elias Jarada, replaced MP Asaad Hardan, representative of the Syrian National Party.

The main competing forces shared the seats in the northern Matn, which has a Christian majority. The “forces” won two seats and the same for the “Phalanges”, compared to two seats for the “Free Patriotic Movement”, and two seats for the Armenian Tashnaq Alliance and Michel Murr. As for Aley, preliminary information spoke of the possibility of Democratic Party Chairman MP Talal Arslan losing his seat in favor of the Forces for Change candidate Mark Daou.
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