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Lebanon Municipal Elections Offer Painful Reminder of Lebanon’S Quandaries

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Lebanon Municipal Elections Offer Painful Reminder of Lebanon’S Quandaries May 15, 2016 3 News & Analysis Lebanon Municipal elections offer painful reminder of Lebanon’s quandaries Dalal Saoud rut. “Low voter turnout, however, showed apathy and lack of trust in politicians irrespective of their Beirut location on the divisive political spectrum.” he desire for change in The Beirutis’ List, backed by Sun- Lebanon has manifested ni leader and former prime minister itself on many occasions Saad Hariri, won the Beirut munici- over a long time. How- pal election, capturing all 24 seats ever, in a country with 18 in the polls. It faced a good chal- Treligious sects, with many political lenge by the Beirut Madinati (Bei- and social agendas as well as re- rut My City) list, which was hastily gional affiliations, the task is never formed to defy the political estab- easy. lishment and included technocrats, A Lebanese woman shows her ink-stained thumb after casting her vote for the municipal elections at The first round of Lebanon’s mu- civil society members, artists and a polling station in Beirut, on May 8th. nicipal elections, which took place businessmen. in Beirut and the Baalbek-Hermel “Even though it (Beirut Madinati) governorates in eastern Lebanon lost the race, it presented itself as larity and control over important ar- research institute based in Beirut. ance remains in place. on May 8th, was another painful a potentially viable alternative to eas in eastern Lebanon, considered Khashan said Shia voters are no “True, there are growing com- reminder that traditional political politically backed municipal lists a reservoir of fighters and support- exception to the rule. plaints but did the situation reach parties and de facto forces maintain mainly because of the low voter ers for the war it is fighting in Syria “The winds of change do not rec- the level of changing the traditional a tight hold on the country. turnout (20%),” Khashan said. alongside President Bashar Assad’s ognise sectarian barriers,” he said. political balances? I see no such Despite a crisis over rubbish col- Hariri, who expressed relief that forces. “Many Shias are angered by Hez- drastic change,” Tabbarah said. lection, rampant corruption among Iran-backed Shia Hezbollah chose The Hezbollah-backed lists won bollah’s involvement in the Syrian No doubt, the Lebanese people politicians, the failure to elect a to sit out the Beirut municipal elec- in most municipalities in the Bekaa conflict and they tend not to accept desire change but civil action has new president for two years and tions, was keen to emphasise Chris- valley but it was a close call in Baal- the fact that their children are being been mostly confined to individu- adopt much-needed new laws, tian-Muslim parity and included bek, where they faced the secular sacrificed as expendable foot sol- als coming from middle-class back- the vote was simply a political one candidates not only from Christian- Baalbek Madinati (Baalbek My City), diers in a conflict that cannot possi- grounds, Khashan explained. fuelled by sectarian fears, political allied groups — the Phalange Party which included local civil society bly benefit any Lebanese sect.” “More than 60% of Lebanese are rivalries and regional conflicts. and the Lebanese Forces — but also activists; and in the border town of impoverished and political mobili- from the Hezbollah ally the Free Pa- Brital against a list headed by the Elections highlighted sation is not an option for them,” he “The winds of change triotic Movement. Tufayli family and blessed by for- tight control by said. “They remain dependent on Christian voters in Beirut did not mer Hezbollah chief Sheikh Sobhi traditional political meagre provisions by their sectar- do not recognise honour their leaders’ alliances and, al-Tufayli, who has been a staunch parties on the country. ian political patrons.” sectarian barriers.” according to Khashan, mostly chose critic of the militant party and its The good thing, however, is that to support Beirut Madinati “in what patron, Iran. Discontent with political perfor- the seeds of change have been Hilal Khashan, chairman appeared to be a genuine desire to With reports indicating that 40% mance and deteriorating public ser- planted, he said. “They need to be of the political studies break the shackles of political pa- of Shia votes went to the Baalbek vices was an important factor in the nurtured until they mature and de- department at the American tronage”. Madinati with turnout that reached Beirut vote, explaining the quick liver tangible results,” Khashan con- University of Beirut “In addition, it seems that Chris- 50% in Baalbek and 60% in Brital, rise of the Beirut Madinati. cluded. tian voters are fed up with playing a the challenge was clear. But, as noted by Tabbarah, Hari- Polls for the remaining governo- “There is no question that the subservient political role. Christians “If the reports are accurate, this ri’s list won because the Sunnis in rates are scheduled for May 15th, political mood in Lebanon, espe- aspire to play a leading political role means considerable discontent Beirut voted heavily for it “out of 22nd and 29th. cially the Sunni-Shia divide, played reminiscent of their distinguished with Hezbollah over its dealing fear of the Shias”. a dominant role in deciding the position during the years of the first with the Shia community and its As one voter explained: “We will Dalal Saoud is the deputy outcome of elections in Beirut,” republic,” he said. involvement in the Syria war,” said not allow anyone to break Hariri in editor-in-chief of The Arab Weekly said Hilal Khashan, chairman of Hezbollah was in no better posi- Riad Tabbarah, a political analyst the face of Hezbollah.” and has been reporting on the Arab the political studies department tion. It too faced the challenge of and head of the Centre for Develop- However, the result is that the region since 1990. She is based in at the American University of Bei- proving anew its “extensive” popu- ment Studies and Projects, a private delicate political-confessional bal- Beirut. Lebanon’s municipal elections an indicator of the political mood Viewpoint ebanon’s municipal due to technical or logistical rea- that electoral results are not left to appears credible at the grass-root elections represent a sons but the absence of collective chance. The scenes level, despite occasional differenc- unique opportunity to political decision-making and a One bloc that sought to fight es of opinion on local and domestic glean a practical dangerous parliamentary “logjam”. back against the intervention from the issues. reading of the country’s Elections for municipal councils of major political parties in the municipal As for Lebanon’s Shia communi- political situation at a are traditionally the least impor- municipal elections was the elections ty, the alliance between Hezbollah Ltime when Lebanon remains tant polls in Lebanon, at least to grass-roots Beirut Madinati list. and the Amal Movement continues demonstrate without a president and parlia- political observers. These elec- It was ultimately defeated by the to dominate Shia politics, whether mentary elections are on hold. tions, like parliamentary ones, take Beirutis’ List, which is backed by the absurdity at the municipal level or above. Political discourse in Lebanon is place according to bloc voting but, former prime minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon’s It is clear that the electoral Mohamad focused on a variety of domestic unlike parliamentary elections, and the Future Movement, part of electoral moods among Lebanon’s Muslim Kawas and regional issues, not least the are not based on a confessional or the March 14 alliance. and Christian communities have issue of sovereignty, Hezbollah’s sectarian quota system. The first stage of the elections, stagnation. diverged, and in some cases are arms and the Syrian crisis as well The scenes from the municipal which encompass Beirut and at complete odds with each other, as regional tensions between Saudi elections demonstrate the absurd- Bekaa, represented an impor- even within the same broader Arabia and Iran. ity of Lebanon’s electoral stagna- tant test for Hariri, who person- political alliance. Despite, or perhaps because of, tion. With no other elections on ally campaigned in the Lebanese Municipal lists used sectarian intense political manoeuvring, the horizon, Lebanon’s major capital on behalf of the Beirutis’ policies to shore up votes, such rival Lebanese parliamentary blocs political parties exerted every ef- List. Its victory confirms his lead- as church bells in Zahle ringing to have been unable to agree on a fort to dominate and control local ership of the Future Movement call Christians to vote against the president. If municipal elections council elections. after years of exile abroad and his “tyranny” of the Muslim voters demonstrate one thing clearly it On the eve of the elections, Hez- popularity in Beirut, which will be in the Bekaa valley, traditionally is that Lebanon does possess the bollah Secretary-General Sayyed essential in the upcoming period of dominated by the Catholics. This security and logistical capabilities Hassan Nasrallah warned against Lebanese politics. was a policy that succeeded, given to have elections, even if only at the role being played by “civil The municipal elections dem- the success of the Christian alli- relatively lower levels. society” candidates — namely the onstrated the degeneration of ance there. While Shia candidates, The lack of parliamentary elec- blocs and candidates that would the trans-sectarian alliances that backed by Hezbollah and Amal, tions, which were supposed to be have traditionally dominated the had typified the rival March 8 and also used sectarian language to in 2014 but cannot take place until municipal elections, which would March 14 alliances since 2005. In- secure seats in traditionally Shia- a new president is installed, is not have been largely been ignored by stead, Lebanon has witnessed the dominated areas such as Baalbek.
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