Shiite Hezbollah and its allies suffered surprisingly heavy losses in elections in crisis-ridden Lebanon. According to Monday’s preliminary results, they lose a majority in the Mediterranean country’s Chamber of Deputies. Representatives of the opposition protest movement, on the other hand, celebrated an unexpected success for many. Other opponents of Hezbollah (“God’s Party”), which is Iran’s close ally, have also managed to gain ground.
Hezbollah is the most influential political force in Lebanon. Its power rests, among other things, on its own militia, with which it controls entire areas of Lebanon, including the border with its arch-enemy Israel. In Sunday’s election, Hezbollah managed to retain most of its seats. According to information, several of its partners lost mandates. In the 2018 election, they achieved a clear majority together.
Not all results were confirmed on Monday night. Interior Minister Bassam Maulawi explained that the count is still ongoing. It was unclear when the official final result could be expected. According to the Interior Ministry, voter turnout dropped to around 41 percent.
According to media reports, the protest movement’s lists have up to ten terms in the Chamber of Deputies, which has a total of 128 seats. The movement dates back to the mass demonstrations that broke out against the political leadership in the fall of 2019. Its representatives and other opposition members want to break the monopoly of power of the parties that have ruled Lebanon for decades.
The party of former Christian militia commander Samir Geagea, one of Hezbollah’s harshest critics, also managed to gain ground. With around 20 seats, it is now the strongest Christian force in the multi-denominational country.
“The first results have brought positive surprises to the opposition,” said Maha Yahya, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut. Some traditional leaders lost their seats. “This could be the beginning of a change.”
For more than two years, Lebanon has been suffering from the worst economic and financial crisis in its history. According to the UN, about three-quarters of the country’s population now lives below the poverty line. In everyday life, they struggle with insufficient supplies. The Lebanese currency lost more than 90% of its value. The government can no longer pay its debts.
Mass protests in 2019 drew tens of thousands of people to the streets. The demonstrations were directed, among other things, against widespread corruption. Many people blame the established parties that have been in power for decades for the country’s grave crisis. Critics speak of a “government mafia” that enriches itself. Potential foreign donors such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are demanding reforms in exchange for financial aid. However, these have not yet materialised.
Lebanon’s political system is characterized by a fragile balance between denominations. The head of state is always Christian, the head of government is Sunni and the speaker of parliament is Shia. Shia Hezbollah enjoys particular influence with its own militia and controls entire areas, including those bordering its arch-enemy Israel.
It was the first parliamentary election since the explosion in the port of the capital Beirut in August 2020. More than 190 people died and around 6,000 were injured. The blast devastated much of the harbor and surrounding residential areas.