Mount Lebanon Votes First: The Tone-Setting Elections
Official municipal and mukhtar elections began in the Mount Lebanon area on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Under the direction of President Joseph Aoun and the newly established administration, these elections are seen as a crucial turning point in the activation of local governance.In a strong demonstration of leadership and responsibility, President Aoun started his day with an early visit to the Ministry of Interior and Municipality, where election preparations were being closely watched. Later, he was joined by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who actively participated in examining the voting processes to ensure everything was running well. Alongside them were Minister Ahmad Al Hajjar and a group of senior officials who collaborated to ensure that the elections were conducted transparently and in complete accordance with all applicable legal and administrative requirements. President Aoun continued to supervise the implementation of the election measures at the Baabda Palace after he visited the Ministry. Minister Ahmad Al Hajjar acknowledged that 195 electoral complaints were filed in Mount Lebanon in a statement following his vote in his hometown of Chehime. He underlined that the present administration is committed to upholding constitutional requirements and rules, while also giving development initiatives and municipal structure renovation first priority. 'I have not and will not interfere in my town's elections. I have faith that the people will select representatives who are true to them'. He remarked. Speaking about more general issues, Al Hajjar recognized that Lebanon continues to face security difficulties, especially in the south. He informed the public that the Lebanese state continues to be the major source of security and stability for its people and underlined that diplomatic efforts are being carried out through the Ceasefire Committee. More than only a restoration to democratic norms, these elections mark the comeback of a resilient Lebanon. The country's institutions are steadily recovering, and trust in the democratic process is growing again. In a further positive move, the United Arab Emirates declared that it will begin removing travel restrictions on Lebanon on May 7th, enabling Emirati nationals to visit the country. An essential step towards regional reintegration and economic recovery, this action demonstrates the rising trust in the area and the closer connections between Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. Lebanon is undergoing a period of rehabilitation. These elections' successful completion signifies both political stability and a renewed feeling of national identity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
L'Orient-Le Jour
an hour ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Rabih Banat, president of the SSNP, wins second four-year term
The Supreme Council of the Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party (SSNP) on Thursday re-elected Rabih Banat as party president for a second four-year term, following a meeting held at the party's headquarters in Rawsheh. The SSNP, an ally of Hezbollah and the former regime of Bashar Assad in Syria, was founded in 1932 by Antoun Saadeh, who was later sentenced to death by Lebanese authorities and executed on July 8, 1949. He was accused of attempting a coup against the government in retaliation for repressive measures taken by the latter against the party's members. Advocating for a 'Greater Syria,' the party has recently faced significant internal divisions, with two rival factions — one led by former MP Assaad Hardan, and the other by current leader Rabih Banat. After his re-election on Thursday, Banat said that 'the milestone achieved by the Supreme Council reflects the nationalists' commitment to their institution and to the principles for which they have fought, sacrificed, and given their lives, loyal to the ideology of Antoun Saadeh.' Banat called for the rejection of sectarianism, which 'serves the interests of the enemy, and for the protection of the resistance and its sources of strength,' stressing the importance of national unity in the face of challenges. Internal divisions Splits are common within the pan-Syrian party, which during the civil war was divided between a reformist branch close to Palestinian factions and another branch closer to Damascus. In 1978, they were reunified. As the regional and national political landscape has changed considerably since the death of its founder, the SSNP has faced recurring tensions over how to perpetuate its legacy. More recently, a significant division occurred within the party, but this time the split was more related to power struggles, differing approaches to internal governance and personal rivalries, rather than ideological reasons. Although both camps are pro-Hezbollah and support the former Syrian regime that was toppled in December 2024, a major split took place in recent years between the supporters of Hardan — who was party president between 2008 and 2016 — and those who challenged his leadership style. In 2020, after the election of Banat, an opponent of Hardan, to the party presidency, the former MP refused to recognize the election of his rival, criticizing the process by which he rose to the leadership. Two factions emerged within the party: Banat's and Hardan's. Since then, armed clashes and attacks against the centers of one or the other faction have periodically taken place in various regions across the country. The conflict peaked in 2023 when the SSNP, under Banat's leadership, expelled Hardan from the party. Despite this, Hardan's supporters continue to regard him as the legitimate head of the movement. Pro-Hezbollah and pro-Assad Despite these divisions, the SSNP remains a pro-Bashar Assad political party whose influence in Lebanon, already limited before the fall of the former regime in December, is now even more restricted. The party maintains several strongholds, notably in the Hamra neighborhood of Beirut, where it organizes an annual parade to commemorate the anniversary of the 'Wimpy operation,' carried out by party member Khaled Alwan against Israeli soldiers in the famous café in 1982, during the Israeli occupation of Beirut. The SSNP also operates centers in Bikfaya (Metn), a stronghold of its political rival, the Kataeb Party, and in Koura (North Lebanon), among others. During the war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2024, many party members were killed. While the 'support front' for Gaza, which opened from southern Lebanon in October 2023, a day after the start of the war between Hamas and Israel, included fighters from the Eagles of the Whirlwind (the SSNP's armed wing), the party did not announce separate military operations against Israel, in contrast to Hezbollah. Today, following the government's decision to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year, the SSNP has unsurprisingly taken a stand in favor of maintaining Hezbollah's weapons, criticizing the decision of Salam's government. A day after the announcement of this decision, al-Binaa, a media outlet affiliated with the SSNP, wrote: 'The government has brought down [the] Taif Agreement, Resolution 1701, and the cease-fire agreement, and exposes the country to [Israeli] aggression.'
L'Orient-Le Jour
an hour ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
SSNP elects Banat as party president for second four-year term
BEIRUT — The Supreme Council of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) elected on Thursday Rabih Banat as party president for a second four-year term, following a meeting held at the party's headquarters in Raouche, Beirut. SSNP, an ally of Hezbollah and the former Assad regime in Syria, was founded in 1932 by Antoun Saadeh, who was sentenced to death by Lebanese authorities and executed on July 8, 1949, after his party staged a failed coup attempt against the government in retaliation for repressive measures taken by the latter against party members. Advocating for a "Greater Syria," the party has recently faced significant internal divisions, with rival factions led by former MP Assaad Hardan and the current leader, Banat. After his election on Thursday, Banat affirmed that the "constitutional achievement accomplished by the Supreme Council today reflects the nationalists' commitment to their institution and to the principles for which they have fought, sacrificed, and given their lives for in belief of Saadeh's ideology." Banat called for the rejection of sectarianism, which "serves the enemy's agenda, and to protect the resistance and its sources of strength", emphasizing national unity in the face of challenges. Internal schisms Internal schisms are common within the pan-Syrian party, which during the Civil War split between a reformist branch close to Palestinian factions and another branch closer to Damascus. They were reunited in 1978. With the regional and domestic political landscape much changed since the death of Saadeh, the SSNP has experienced recurring tensions over how to perpetuate its legacy. More recently, a significant split occurred within the party, but this time, the division was more tied to power struggles, different approaches to internal governance, and personal rivalries rather than ideological reasons. While both sides are pro-Hezbollah and support the former Syrian regime that was toppled in December 2024, a major split occurred in recent years between loyalists to Asaad Hardan, who was the president of the party between 2008 and 2016, and others who contest Hardan's leadership style. In 2020, with the election of Banat — who heavily opposes Hardan — as president of the party, the latter did not recognize his election, criticizing the process through which he has been elected. Thus, two wings of the party emerged: the Banat and Hardan wings. Since then, armed clashes and storming of centers belonging to each side have taken place periodically in different parts of the country. The dispute culminated in 2023, when the SSNP, under the leadership of Banat, sacked Hardan from the party. Despite these developments, Hardan's followers still regard him as the legitimate head of the group. Pro-Hezbollah, pro-Assad identity Apart from these divisions, the SSNP remains a pro-Assad political party whose influence in Lebanon, already limited before the fall of the former Syrian regime in December, has become even more restricted now. The party has several strongholds, including the area of Hamra in Beirut , where they organize a yearly parade to commemorate the anniversary of the "Operation Wimpy," which party member Khaled Alwan carried out against Israeli soldiers at the well-known café in 1982, during the Israeli occupation of Beirut. SSNP also has centers in Bikfaya (Metn district), the stronghold of its political rival, the Kataeb party, and in Koura (Northern Lebanon), among other locations. During the war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2024, many of the party's members were killed. Although the 'support front' for Gaza, that was opened from South Lebanon in October 2023 one day after the start of the Gaza war between Hamas and Israel, has included fighters of the Eagles of the Whirlwind (the armed wing of SSNP), the party didn't announce specific military operations against the Hebrew state, unlike Hezbollah. Nowadays, following the Lebanese government's decision to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year, the SSNP has, unsurprisingly, taken a stance in favor of these arms, criticizing the government's decision. One day after the cabinet decision, al-Bina, an outlet affiliated with the SSNP, wrote: "The government is bringing down Taif, Resolution 1701, and the cease-fire agreement and opens the country to [Israeli] aggression."
L'Orient-Le Jour
an hour ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Army to present disarmament plan on Sept. 2, according to Minister Tamara al-Zein
The Lebanese Army will present its plan to bring Hezbollah's weapons back under state monopoly at a government meeting scheduled for Sept. 2, Environment Minister Tamara al-Zein told al-Jadeed ahead of the Cabinet session that convened Thursday in the mid-afternoon at the Grand Serail. She added that 'no one knows the content of this plan.' The government entrusted this task to the army a week ago in a Cabinet decision, which was described as 'historic' by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack and criticized by Iran. The decision aligns with the American proposal to disarm Hezbollah and push Israel to withdraw from the sites it occupies in southern Lebanon, cementing the cease-fire reached last November. Supporters of Hezbollah have protested for several days in a row against this decision. Zein was among the Shiite ministers who left the two meetings dedicated to restoring the state's monopoly on arms. During her interview with al-Jadeed, the minister said, 'They should have taken their time before holding the two Cabinet sessions [on the weapons issue] in order to reach a consensus among the parties,' adding that 'discussing the document of U.S. envoy Tom Barrack amounts to an act of submission.' She also stated that 'there was a tacit agreement to postpone the adoption of the item on the exclusivity of weapons, but this commitment was not upheld.' 'The details of Barrack's document are worrisome; every point contains a 'trap,' and the Lebanese Army is carefully considering the plan and will discuss it with the Parliament speaker and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam,' she added. Zein also said that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri 'will try until the last moment to prevent Lebanon from slipping into confrontation or tensions,' adding that 'it is totally out of the question for an internal Lebanese conflict to break out.' Berri, head of the Amal movement and an ally of Hezbollah, has ruled out any government resignation but also criticized those who objected to Wednesday's visit to Beirut by the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, stressing that Hezbollah remained a 'major component' of the country.
