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REPORTS:
: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri looses to Hezbollah candidate
Amin Shri in Beirut
#UPDATE: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri looses by 2,000 votes to Hezbollah candidate, voter turnout at 49.2% across Lebanon in general election
Lebanon Elections: Hezbollah Poised to Expand Clout in Parliament
Sputnik News
For
the first time since 2009, Lebanese citizens are casting ballots in
the May 6 parliamentary elections after lawmakers extended their term
twice, citing political instability in the country.
Who
is Taking Part?
More
than 500 candidates are participating in Sunday's parliamentary
elections in Lebanon, where voters will decide on the future of all
128 seats in the country's legislature.
There
is a record number of women and non-party candidates running in the
elections, even though the lion's share of seats is expected to be
gained by representatives of the six main political parties.
These
include the Future Movement of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who
currently heads the largest block in parliament, and the Free
Patriotic Movement, founded by President Michel Aoun, which has the
second largest bloc.
Other
groups include the Shiite organizations Hezbollah and Amal, as well
as the Progressive Socialist Party and the right-wing Christian party
Lebanese Force.
Hezbollah's
Push for Election Win
The
paramilitary and political Shiite movement Hezbollah, with Sheikh
Hassan Nasrallah at the helm, is expected to expand its clout in the
parliament; the party hopes to win at least 43 votes.
A
woman supporter of Hezbollah casts her vote at a polling station
during the parliamentary election in Tibnin, South Lebanon, May 6,
2018
Calling
for heavy voter turnout, Nasrallah said that "you should protect
with your votes your victories and achievements, for which you've
paid a very high price," an apparent nod to Hezbollah supporting
Syrian President Bashar Assad's fight against jihadists in Syria.
New
Election Law
June
2017 saw the adoption of an array of amendments to the election law
in Lebanon.
Under
the amendments, the parties have agreed among themselves to not
restrict the number of eligible candidates, with candidates
corresponding to set demographic areas.
When
picking a candidate to represent his or her region, a voter casts a
ballot for a list of candidates that include the voter's choice. When
the votes are counted, parliamentary seats are distributed among the
lists on a percentage basis — the more votes the list collects, the
more candidates will be elected to parliament.
At
the same time, certain ethnic and religious groups are ensured
political representation, as has been the case in the past.
First
Parliamentary Elections Since 2009
About
3.6 million registered voters are expected to vote in Sunday's
parliamentary elections for the first time since 2009, after the
current parliament extended its term twice, citing political
instability in the country.
Security
is tight across Lebanon, as Interior Ministry forces remain on
heightened alert at polling booths to maintain order.
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