Poverty is spreading in Lebanon. The frustration of many people is great given the difficult situation. Supporters of the opposition are hoping for a change – and are setting a special sign of protest in the parliamentary elections.
The Lebanese have elected a new parliament amid the worst economic and financial crisis in their country’s history. In view of the difficult situation, many younger voters in particular hoped that opposition candidates would win on Sunday.
They blame the parties that have been in power for decades for Lebanon’s decline. It is the first parliamentary election since the explosion almost two years ago that massively destroyed the port and center of the capital Beirut.
Almost four million people were called upon to determine the 128 members of the House of Representatives. In Beirut, there were long traffic jams on the streets and queues in front of polling stations in the morning. The first preliminary unofficial results could be available on Sunday evening.
Around three quarters of the population live below the poverty line
The severe economic and financial crisis began in autumn 2019 and is affecting large parts of the population. According to the UN, around three quarters of the people in Lebanon now live below the poverty line. The Lebanese currency has lost more than 90 percent of its value. Inflation is more than 200 percent.
In everyday life, the Lebanese struggle with insufficient supplies. Many households only have electricity for a few hours a day. Vital medicines are also missing. Recently, concerns about a bread crisis grew.
Because of a complicated voting system, more accurate predictions are hardly possible. However, the chances of major change are slim, said Lebanese politics professor Imad Salamah. “The electoral system is tailored to preserve the political establishment.”
Many observers expect that the Shiite Hezbollah, which is allied with Iran, will be able to consolidate its already strong position. It is unclear what effect the resignation of the most important Sunni politician to date, Saad al-Hariri, will have. The ex-Prime Minister surprisingly announced in January that he would not run for office.
Fighting corruption for many main challenge
The number of opposition candidates is larger than in previous elections. Many emerge from the mass demonstrations against the political leadership that erupted in 2019. According to a survey commissioned by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the fight against corruption is the most important challenge for many Lebanese. Many also want a “new and clean political class”.
“We want change,” said an opposition supporter outside a polling station in Beirut. “It will be difficult to do it all at once. But it has to get better.” Each voter must dip a finger in blue ink after voting to prevent a double vote. Some opponents of the ruling parties used this to set a sign of protest: they spread pictures of their blue-colored outstretched middle finger on social media.
Distribution of offices according to denominations
Lebanon’s political system is characterized by a fragile balance of denominations. The head of state is always a Christian, the head of government a Sunni and the speaker of the parliament a Shiite. Critics say the most important decisions are made by leaders outside of parliament.
More than 190 people died in the explosion disaster in the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. Around 6000 people were injured. The exact cause of the detonation is still unclear.
Source: Stern
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