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Lebanon's May 15 Legislative Elections

(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah - 1,046 candidates will compete for the 128 seats in the Lebanese parliament on May 15. The elections will help determine Lebanon's identity in the coming years. The struggle is between two main ideological blocs: one aimed at transforming Lebanon into another province of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the other fighting for Lebanon's Arab identity and independence. The electoral campaign has witnessed much violence, with thugs sent mainly by Hizbullah and Amal who have physically attacked potential candidates who threatened their hegemony in south Lebanon and the Bekaa valley. Candidates on rival lists in the Bekaa decided to withdraw their candidacy, fearing for their lives. Former Sunni Prime Minister Saad Hariri has withdrawn his list from participating in the elections, putting into question the nature of the Sunni representation that will emerge. Another question is whether the Christian Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), headed by Lebanese President Michel Aoun's son-in-law, Gebran Bassil, will lose its majority of the Christian vote because of a chain of scandals and corruption cases. As matters now stand, the elections may lead to almost complete paralysis of the Lebanese body politic, adding to the national chaos. The writer, a Middle East analyst at the Jerusalem Center, was former Deputy Head for Assessment of Israeli Military Intelligence.
2022-05-12 00:00:00
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