PNN – After a three-year hiatus, the municipal and city council elections in Lebanon witnessed the participation of various political parties and movements, especially the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, and support from the southern regions for the resistance option.
At first glance, holding municipal and city council elections in a country may not have any particular political or media significance for the citizens of that country or other countries, but this year’s elections in Lebanon are not considered a regular political process, but rather an important referendum, because these elections were held in the shadow of the recent attacks by the Zionist regime against Lebanon.
The elections, which are held every six years, were scheduled to be held in Lebanon in 2022, but were postponed due to the conditions in Lebanon at the time. The elections were held in four phases and were held in the Jabal Governorate, the Northern and Akkar Governorates, Beirut, Bekaa and Baalbek Hermel, the South and Nabatieh. In areas such as Akkar, Tripoli and the northern parts, the Lebanese elections were held under the influence of other parties such as the Future Movement. In addition to the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, the Free National Movement, the Forces, the Marda Movement, the Independence Movement, the Kataeb, the Islamic Movement and other independent candidates participated in these elections. It should be noted that, regardless of publishing details of the votes in different parts of Lebanon, the Arab media have not addressed the breakdowns or overall results of the elections in detail.
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Jebel province
The first round of these elections was held in Mount Lebanon with a turnout of 56% in Jbeil, 59% in Kasrwan, 37% in Al-Matn, 38% in Baabda, 41% in Alia, and 44% in Al-Shouf.
The election campaign in this region was mostly focused on Christian areas, especially the city of Jounieh, where the Free National Movement was based. The movement was able to win seats in a number of areas such as Deir el-Qamar and El-Kahala.
North and Akar
The second round of the elections was held in the northern and Akkar provinces, areas that sometimes witnessed some clashes during the elections. Despite the lack of widespread participation of Tripoli residents in the elections, the announcement of the results took two days. None of the Christian candidates were able to win the Tripoli City Council.
In many cities and districts of Batroun, Bsharri, Al-Kura, and Zgharta, with a majority of Christian residents, lists supported by the Lebanese Forces movement won, either individually or in alliance with the Kataeb Party and the Independence Movement. The Marda Movement also showed its wide influence in the city of Zgharta, while it was defeated in the coastal region of Shaka. A coalition between the Marda Movement and the Free National Movement in the upcoming Lebanese parliamentary elections does not seem unlikely. The percentage of participation in these areas has also been recorded from 25% to 49%.
Beirut
The third round of the elections was also held in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. In fact, it can be said that in Beirut, Lebanese representative Fouad Makhzoumi was able to win the field. The percentage of Beirutis’ participation in these elections reached 20. A broad coalition of various political groups, with the “Beirut Brings Us Together” list, was able to field 11 Christian candidates for the city council. This coalition showed that it had achieved victory despite the differences in political tastes and the absence of the Future Movement. The Future Movement also entered the field with the “Beirut Beit Habakk” list.
A tsunami of support for the resistance in the southern regions
The decisive victory of the list supported by the Amal Movement and Hezbollah in the southern regions of Lebanon once again showed that the movement towards resistance is intertwined with the daily lives of the residents of these regions. The turnout in most Shiite areas of Lebanon was reported to be over 45%.
Lebanese media reported two days ago that the results of the municipal and city council elections in southern Lebanon indicated the victory of the coalition list of pro-resistance movements, the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, known as the “Development and Loyalty” coalition.
According to a report by Hezbollah’s election headquarters, the “Development and Loyalty” lists won uncontested elections in 102 of the 272 municipalities in southern Lebanon. Only in the Hasbiya region was an agreement not reached and the elections were held competitively.
The announced results are as follows:
- Sour Area:
39 municipal seats were won in the “Sur” constituency. In the constituencies where elections were held, the Development and Loyalty lists won in the following:
Tyre City – Joya – Deir Qanun River – Ain Baal – Al-Bataem Mountains – Arzoun – Shahabiyyah – Tayyir Debba – Abbasiya – Serifa – Al-Bayyad – Ramadiyyah – Al-Bazouryyah – North Tower
2- Nabatieh region
Nabatiyeh County includes 40 cities and villages. The Development and Loyalty lists won in 16 cities. In the constituencies where elections were held, the Development and Loyalty lists won in the following cases:
Yahmar Shaqif – Mifadon – Jabshit – Adshit – Kafar Tibnit – Al-Kafur – Al-Namiriya – Zatar Al-Sharqiya – Nabatiya Al-Fawqa – Aba – Zatar Al-Sharqiya – Bariga – Jarju
3- Bint Jbeil area
In the Bint Jbeil region, 20 municipal seats were won, and in the constituencies where elections were held, the Development and Loyalty lists won in the following cases:
Aitarun – Shakra and Dubiya – Hunain – Brashit – Faroon – Soltaniyeh – Yater – Safad Al-Batikh
4- Marjayoun area
The Resistance Movement won 13 municipal seats in the Marjayoun district. In the constituencies where elections were held, the Development and Loyalty lists won in the following:
Dibina – Adaiseh – Kafar Kala – Hola – Blida – Deir Sirin
5- Saida region
In the Sidon region, 16 out of 48 municipal seats were won. In the municipalities where the Development and Loyalty lists participated, they achieved victories in the following cases:
Saskiyya, Benaful, Al-Lubiyya
The results indicate a decisive victory for the pro-resistance and pro-Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon, despite the existence of internal and external threats and pressures.