AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The Lebanese interior ministry announced the final parliamentary elections on Tuesday, saying that the turnout rate was 41 percent. According to the results, Hezbollah and Amal movement won 31 seats, Samir Geagea-led Lebanese Forces 20 seats, Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) led by Gebran Bassil 18 seats, and Progressive Socialist Party led by Taymur Jumblatt 9 seats. The Lebanese civil community's forces together won 12 seats.
The results are announced in a situation where 719 candidates in 103 electoral lists competed for 128 seats. The international media have been extensively covering the elections. Alwaght, too, has talked to Lebanon's affairs expert Musaib Naeemi for assessment of the outcome.
Win of independents of extraordinary importance
Asked for an initial assessment of the election results, Mr Naeemi said that given the developments of the past few years, especially in the past four years, the most important feature of which has been the pervasive economic crisis and political tensions in this country, we have witnessed the frustration of the citizens with the ruling system in the country. Therefore, the participation rate of 41 percent of was largely predictable and, of course, acceptable, especially that many traditional figures and permanent members of the government are no longer accepted by the public, and this was one of the highlights of this election.
"Based on the results, it can be held that Hezbollah and Amal Movement maintained their influence in the southern regions, namely in areas of great significance in confrontation of the Israeli regime. Another important point of the election results is that the independent figures managed to make their way to the parliament. Also, a small number made their way with the help of Saudi cash. The most important point is that Hezbollah and Amal won in the south as the extremely important part of the country and the bastion of resistance"
The election results were positive to Hezbollah and Amal
Commenting on the results made by Hezbollah and Amal movements, Mr Naeemi held that the March 8 Alliance that includes the resistance forces even found a better position with the new results. If we consider the whole political factions, we can see that seats from all parties went to the independents. This is also true about Hezbollah and Amal, as well as the pro-Western Future Movement. Ordinarily, the breakthroughs for the independents mean loss for traditional parties. Meanwhile, the important point to know is that some seats that the opposite side claims were lost by Hezbollah actually belonged to Hezbollah's allies and not Hezbollah itself. "In general, the election results should be regarded positive to resistance forces and their allies. The resistance and its allies still have the majority in the parliament. Still, we should know that in Lebanon's parliament, each party's share is specified, and that one side considers itself a winner and the opposite a loser is incorrect."
Impossible to distance resistance camp from new government
Asked about the future Lebanese government, Mr Naeemi responded that as the head of Loyalty to Resistance Mohammed Ra'ad said, Hezbollah accepts coexistence with other factions while its admits that there are some differences with them. In fact, Hezbollah believes in unity. Meanwhile, the most important principle of Hezbollah is that it would not work with any party seeking cooperation with or even flexibility to the Israeli regime. That Lebanon's policy moves in line with the Western and American interests has never been and will never be unacceptable to Hezbollah by any means. The opposite side, despite all of their efforts, does not seem to have reached an agreement on government formation. Despite all of Saudi financial support to its loyalists, they have not made progress yet. The important point is that all parties have the conviction that without company of resistance camp, no government is possible. Actually, Hezbollah and Amal are certainly accepted as part of Lebanon's political reality. All in all, the likeliest scenario for Lebanon is formation of a new cabinet with the presence of all parties.
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