Latest news with #BaalbekHermel
LBCI
18-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Voter turnout varies across Beirut, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel: Official figures
According to figures released by the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, voter turnout in Lebanon's ongoing municipal and mukhtar elections reached 6.20% in Beirut, 14.86% in Baalbek-Hermel, and 14.95% across the Bekaa region. Turnout rates in individual districts were as follows: Rashaya: 13.37% Hermel: 13.01% West Bekaa: 14.04% Zahle: 15.89% Baalbek: 15.19% Beirut: 6.20% These numbers reflect voter participation as the country continues its third phase of local elections.
LBCI
18-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Polls open for municipal elections in Beirut, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel; PM Salam urges high turnout
Polling stations opened Sunday morning for the municipal and mukhtar elections in the governorates of Beirut, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel, as voting got underway in the third phase of Lebanon's staggered local elections. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, speaking after casting his ballot in Beirut, expressed confidence in the city's electorate. "I'm certain Beirutis will know how to ensure everyone is represented in the municipal council," he said. Salam emphasized the urgent need for development in the capital, citing potholes, traffic congestion, and the waste crisis as critical issues. "Beirut needs development and improvement, starting with the road conditions, traffic jams, and garbage management," he noted. He also called for strong voter turnout. "This is an opportunity that shouldn't be missed," he said, adding that Beirut must avoid the mistakes seen in Tripoli and North Lebanon during earlier election phases. "We must learn from those errors, and I hope the vote count in Beirut will be completed quickly." Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar, who visited polling stations in Beirut, acknowledged the traditionally low turnout in the early hours. "It's common for mornings to be quiet. We hope participation increases as the day progresses, especially in Beirut, to select the most capable candidates and advance development," he said. He also addressed concerns about vote counting. "We hope the tally won't take too long so that results can be announced promptly," he said. Al-Hajjar stressed the integrity of the electoral process. "No one has the right to cast doubt on the results. If there are any objections, they should be submitted to the State Shura Council." "The priority," he added, "is for voters to turn out in large numbers to elect a municipal council that serves the capital, Beirut."
LBCI
16-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Lebanese Civil Defense escalates preparedness before municipal elections
The General Directorate of Civil Defense issued a statement announcing that, as part of efforts to ensure the safety of voters during the third phase of municipal and local elections—scheduled for Sunday, May 18, 2025, in the governorates of Beirut, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel—all operational units have been placed on full alert. Acting on the instructions of Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar, the acting Director General of Civil Defense, Brigadier General Nabil Farah, issued a directive putting all operational teams on 100% readiness starting at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, through 8:00 a.m. on Monday, May 19, to allow for immediate response to any emergency. Civil Defense teams and vehicles will be deployed on the ground starting 5:00 a.m. Sunday at key intersections and around polling stations across districts, in accordance with a detailed pre-established deployment plan. The joint field monitoring room, overseen by General Farah has also been reactivated to coordinate efforts between regions and all agencies supervising the elections, ensuring around-the-clock preparedness. The General Directorate reaffirmed its commitment to supporting this national milestone by safeguarding public safety. It called on citizens to cooperate and report any emergency by dialing 125 or contacting 70192693 for immediate assistance.
LBCI
13-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Municipal race heats up in Lebanon's Bekaa and Baalbek-Hermel—An overview
Report by Yazbek Wehbe, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi As Lebanon heads toward municipal elections, the vast Bekaa region—divided administratively into the governorates of Bekaa and Baalbek-Hermel—emerges as a major electoral battleground in terms of geography and political influence. In Baalbek-Hermel, the region comprises 74 municipalities in Baalbek and 8 in Hermel. Four key municipalities—Hermel, Baalbek, Chmistar, and Aarsal—each have 21 council members, highlighting their electoral significance. In the Bekaa governorate, 88 municipal councils and 251 mukhtars are distributed across 21 municipalities in the central Bekaa district, or Zahle, 31 in West Bekaa, and 26 in Rachaiya. The political weight in Baalbek-Hermel predominantly lies with the Shiite community, where the region's two leading Shiite parties—Hezbollah and the Amal Movement—are working to avoid electoral clashes by forming uncontested lists. In several towns, they have secured victories by acclamation, and their efforts are ongoing. However, in the city of Baalbek, a competitive race is underway between two main lists: one backed by the Amal-Hezbollah duo and another led by civil society activists running under the banner "Baalbek Madinati" (Baalbek is My City). In Zahle, political divisions are also prominent. The current mayor, Asaad Zoghaib, heads a list supported by MP Michel Daher and the Kataeb Party. Facing them is a rival list led by Salim Ghazaly, backed by the Lebanese Forces. A potential third, incomplete list by the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) has yet to be formed. The Future Movement's failure to directly participate in the elections has left Sunni towns and villages confused amid the large number of candidates. In the two Bekaa governorates, the clan dimension cannot be overcome in several towns, as disputes can easily be ignited, which hinders the formation of electoral lists.
LBCI
13-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Baalbek-Hermel governor extends deadline for mukhtar election nominations
Baalbek-Hermel Governor Bachir Khodr issued a decision extending the deadline for submitting new nomination applications for mukhtar councils in villages and towns of the Baalbek district that are not divided into neighborhoods and where the number of candidates remains below the required threshold. The extension does not apply to Ain Bourday, Bednayel, Sefri, and Majdaloun towns. The new nominations deadline is midnight on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
