Counting of Votes Begins in Lebanese Parliamentary Elections

With the conclusion of voting in Lebanon's parliamentary elections held on Sunday, May 5, the counting of votes has begun. On Sunday evening, eligible individuals who were present at polling stations but had not yet cast their votes were allowed to do so, despite the twelve-hour voting period having ended. This parliamentary election in Lebanon was held for the first time in nine years and after a five-year delay across all six provinces of this Mediterranean coastal country. Approximately 600 candidates from 77 parties and joint lists competed for 128 parliamentary seats, with about 90 of them being women. This year's elections were conducted under a new law that may diminish the role of established old parties and groups in the Lebanese parliament. According to the proportionality law, each party or joint list will receive parliamentary seats in proportion to the percentage of votes they receive. Out of a population of over six million in Lebanon, about three million seven hundred thousand were eligible to vote, and it is estimated that at least half of these citizens exercised their voting rights in the Sunday elections. The elections in the 'land of rice' once again showcased a confrontation between two nationalist camps led by the Future Movement, headed by current Prime Minister Saad Hariri, and the camp of Hezbollah and its allies. Many observers of Lebanese affairs view this election as a struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia on Lebanese soil. During the electoral campaign, Saad Hariri repeatedly stated that 'a government within a government' is unacceptable, referring to Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah, with the support of some Maronite Christians like General Michel Aoun, the current president, is seeking to strengthen its parliamentary power for greater influence in the government. Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, who has been living in hiding since the 12-year war between this organization and Israel, has given numerous speeches in recent weeks with surveillance cameras to portray Hezbollah as part of the national fabric of Lebanon. Nasrallah, who stated last year that 'money, weapons, water, bread, and everything for Hezbollah comes from Iran,' emphasized that Hezbollah has acted in the interests of Lebanon since its formation 36 years ago. However, he identified Saudi Arabia and Israel as the main enemies of Lebanon's national unity. Recently, Hezbollah has remained silent regarding the crisis between Israel and Iran, particularly concerning Iran's military presence in Syria, amid heightened tensions and the potential for war between the two countries in Syria. Many observers emphasized that Hezbollah had been silent about the Tehran-Jerusalem confrontation due to the Lebanese parliamentary elections. In Lebanon, where over 60% of the population consists of Shia, Sunni, and Alawite Muslims, as well as Druze, and the rest are Maronite, Orthodox, and Assyrian Christians, the presidency has historically been held by a representative of the Maronite Christians; the presidency of the parliament is held by a Shia; and the prime minister is a Sunni figure. It is estimated that the first results of the vote counting will be announced by early Monday morning.