Ballot boxes
for municipal and mayoral elections opened at 7 a.m. on Sunday in 40 Lebanese
towns for voters to choose 39 municipal councils and a mayoral council in
Bazoun, Bcharre. Municipal elections in Bkaatouta, Kesrouan and Shwaghir in
Hermel were postponed at a time when 20 municipal councils and 2 mayoral
councils in Abey and Barouk won by acclamation.
Logistic,
administrative and security preparations for these elections were completed
under the supervision of the Interior Ministry.
The electoral turnout in Byakout was high for
both electoral lists; 500 voters out of 550 registered on the voter rolls are
expected to cast their vote.
In Aajaltoun, Kesrouwan, the turnout reached
5% and 1300 to 1400 people are expected to cast their vote. Some voters are
casting full electoral lists while others are choosing names from each list due
to friendship bonds.
Elections kicked off in the south and will
last till 7 p.m. Turnout is still low while elections are being organized in
Tayr Harfa, Sfaray and Kfar Chalal.
In the North, the electoral process kicked
off in Akkar. Elections are organized in 12 municipalities out of 20, and
victory in 8 municipalities was announced by acclamation.
Tikrit, Akkar witnessed a strong
turnout and the number of voters is expected to reach 2250. Two electoral lists
are competing in Tikrit; one belongs to the Future Movement while the other
counts of a number of movements, including one Christian candidate.
In the border
town of Alma Shaab, the competition is between two complete electoral lists of
12 members each; the first is the list of Alma Shaab’s development led by
Assaad Zaarab and the second is entitled “giving to Alma Shaab” and led by the
former municipality head Jean Ghafri.
As for the
town of Abey, it is witnessing municipal elections for the first time since
1963; residents are calmly choosing between a complete list including 15
candidates, 10 Druze and 5 Christians and an incomplete list.
In Ghzayle, Akkar, the number of
voters reached around 150 out of 230 and the competition is between two lists,
the “Loyalty to the Future Movement” and “Independents”.
In Ardeh, Zgharta, two lists representing
all families are competing while March 8 stands against March 14 in Rachaaine.
In Baalbek, 134 candidates are
battling for 5 municipal councils.
The ISF operation room
announced that the average percentage of voter turnout for the municipal
elections reached 16% before noon in 35 municipalities spread over 16 Cazas.
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel
made an inspection tour of polling stations in a number of towns where municipal
elections are ongoing, such as Rachaaine and Ardeh in Zgharta, Hjoula in Jbeil,
Byakout in Matn, Selfaya and Ain Drafil in Aaley.