Municipal election in the Lebanese capital Beirut was held on 8 May 2016.[1] Election was held for 24 seats in the municipal council of the city.[2]

Some 470,000 persons were eligible to vote in the election.[2] The population of Beirut is around four times larger than the electorate, as many Beirut residents remains in the electoral census of their ancestral home villages.[3]

The two main contending lists were 'Beirutis' list' and Beirut Madinati ('Beirut is my city').[2] The Beirutis' List was supported by Saad Hariri, and included politicians from both the 14 March Alliance and the 8 March Alliance.[4] Amongst the parties supporting the list were the Future Movement, Amal Movement and the three main Christian parties.[5] Beirut Madinati was a platform that emerged from civic protests in the 2015 garbage crisis.[6] Film director Nadine Labaki was one of the 24 candidates of Beirut Madinati.[6] Another list in the fray was the secular 'Citizens in the state' list, led by former minister Charbel Nahhas.[4][6] Notably Hezbollah did not endorse any municipal council candidates,[5] "preferring to concentrate on other municipalities south of the city."[7]

Just around 20% of the eligible voters cast their ballots.[4] Security was tight at polling stations, with armed forces deployed.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Al-Jazeera. Lebanon: Civil groups seek change in local elections
  2. 1 2 3 Al-Arabiya. Lebanon municipal elections kick off in Beirut
  3. ↑ Ya Lubnan. Future Movement list wins Beirut Municipal elections
  4. 1 2 3 Daily Star. Hariri indicates clean sweep of Beirut local elections
  5. 1 2 ABC News. Lebanon Holds Local Elections, 1st Vote in 6 Years
  6. 1 2 3 The National. Lebanon holds local elections, the first in six years
  7. ↑ "Beirut shocks its old guard: The established leaders are jolted by a party of protest". The Economist. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  8. ↑ Reuters. Hariri-backed list wins Beirut vote - leader, local media
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