Final Round of Lebanese Election Victorious for Anti-Syrian Opposition

The final round of the Parliamentary election in Lebanon took place yesterday in the northern region on 19th June 2005 and it resulted in a victory for the anti-Syrian coalition led by Saad Hariri.

Unofficial final results for Sunday's final phase of elections in north Lebanon showed an alliance led by Saad al-Hariri, the son of slain ex-Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, comfortably sweeping all remaining 28 seats, taking its overall total to 72 in the 128-member assembly, according to Reuters.

The election day was marked with relatively high turnout 49%, in some villages even 90%.

Hariri's list includes the Lebanese Forces and the Christian opposition Qornet Shehwan Gathering. These parties are now about to form a new government.

Another anti-Syrian Christian, Michel Aoun, leader of Free Patriotic Movement formed his own coalition after he failed to join the broad anti-Syrian coalition. With his list, he succeeded in the third round of the election in Mount Lebanon and Bekaa.

Coalition of Saad Hariri needed at least 21 of 28 seats to gain 65 seats and gain the majority to control the parliament. The anti-Syrian alliance promised sweeping changes on Monday, after the victory.

Earlier in May, before the election had commenced, Saad Hariri met with the representatives of Beirut Orthodox Archbishop Elias Aoudi and Beirut's Maronite Bishop Bolus Matar. It was the voice of the Maronite Bishops Council of Lebanon that strongly disagreed with the electoral law according to which the election was running. However, Saad Hariri, after the meeting expressed one of the first tasks of the new parliament: "Parliament will have a duty of passing a new electoral law."

The victory of the anti-Syrian coalition means the majority of lawmakers will be made up of those opposed to Syria's influence in Lebanon, for the first time since the 1975-1990 civil war.