Berri urges southerners to 'vote heavily' on Saturday
by Naharnet Newsdesk 22 May 2025, 14:46
Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday called on southerners to vote heavily in Saturday's municipal and mayoral polls, especially in towns near the border, to tell Israel that 'these dear towns will only be Lebanese.'
'The human is Lebanon's capital and participation in everything that creates the life of the state and society is the path toward freedom, justice and development,' Berri said in an appeal.
'On May 24 you are urged to return to your land and homes, the same as you did in the first moments after the end of the brutal Israeli aggression,' the Speaker added.
Addressing the supporters of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, Berri said: 'Vote heavily, especially in the front line towns, to produce their municipal and mayoral councils and stress through them to the Israeli occupier and its hostile machine that these dear towns will only be Lebanese for their residents and a space for life, not a scorched land.'
'We will rebuild them and they will not become a buffer zone no matter the sacrifices,' the Speaker added.
Berri's appeal comes amid an intensification of Israeli attacks on vehicles carrying Hezbollah members in recent days.
The Lebanese state has been told by influential countries, topped by the United States, that there are security 'guarantees' for carrying out the municipal and mayoral elections in south Lebanon on Saturday, despite the daily Israeli attacks that the South is witnessing, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Wednesday.
President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met on Tuesday and 'their discussions focused on Saturday's juncture and the need to exert utmost efforts to secure its success, amid the presence of fears that Israel might stage military actions,' the daily added.
Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar visited Sidon on Tuesday and hoped the municipal and mayoral elections in the South will be an occasion for the state to 'restore its presence and stress its sovereignty in the South.'
Hoping contacts with the ceasefire monitoring committee will lead to 'a calm electoral day on Saturday,' the minister said: 'Anyhow, we are not awaiting guarantees, but we are determined to hold the elections and practice our sovereignty and presence in this dear part of our land.'
Asked about the impact of any Israeli attack on the electoral process, the minister said: 'If any violation or attack happens, the decision is clear: continuing the electoral process and dealing with the situation on the ground.'
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