In front of the polling stations in the district of Haret Hreik, only the yellow flags of Hezbollah float on this day of legislative elections in Lebanon, Sunday May 15. In his stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Shiite armed movement reigns supreme.
The presence of many delegates from the “Party of God” did not however discourage Riad and his family from coming to vote. ” for the change “. “We want to give a chance to the lists that are different”says the 67-year-old Shiite businessman, who was born in the neighborhood but now lives between Egypt and France. “We need young people and educated people who want to develop public services”abounds his wife, Lina.
Both voted for the opposition list “Baabda, change”, and in particular for the lawyer Wassef Haraké. They have followed the political activist’s journey since the October 2019 protest and say they are sensitive to his arguments as well as those of his running mate, the former director of the French-speaking daily The Orient-the-Day, Michel Hélou, whom they know better.
Some members of Riad’s family would have preferred to vote for another opposition list, but faced with the dispersion of candidates on several lists, they voted “useful”. “The Citizens Party of [l’ancien ministre] Charbel Nahas has a clearer program that is closer to my ideas, but Wassef Haraké’s list is more likely to break through.”says, regretfully, Nada, a 53-year-old teacher who lives in Beirut.
The weight of clientelism
The opposition’s chances of winning one of the 128 seats in the future assembly are indeed slim compared to the traditional parties. These were booed in the street during the “thaoura” (the protest of October 2019), and are today held responsible for the economic sinking of Lebanon; but the electoral law is favorable to them and many voters remain attached to their “zaïms” (community leaders), out of conviction or clientelism. Convinced that the election was a foregone conclusion, many Lebanese chose to abstain. The turnout stood at 41% at 11 p.m., according to the Interior Ministry, down from 2018.
In the regions dominated by the Shiite tandem Hezbollah-Amal – the formation of the President of Parliament Nabih Berri – the chances of the opposition are even weaker. Many candidates have thus seen their campaigns hampered. On Sunday, Wassef Haraké was chased out of a polling station in the southern suburbs by Hezbollah supporters, shouting “Zionist, Zionist”. The Party of God has unconditional support in this neighborhood. “He defended us against Israel, against [l’organisation] Islamic State. It is the only party that has not participated in corruption”explains Mohin Esbai, a 47-year-old trader.
You have 54.46% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.