Second Round of Lebanon Elections Marked with Boycott by Christians

Yesterday the second round of election took place in the second district in Lebanon. It was marked with a very low turnout of Christian voters, similar to what happened in Beirut during the first round a week earlier.

The voters faced a limited choice since the six candidates won unopposed, as the interior ministry announced. This left voters to fill the remaining 17 seats allocated for the south.

Christian and Sunni Muslim leaders withdrew from the race to protest against some candidates supported by the Hezbollah and Amal, Shiite alliance and letting the alliance gain victory in the second district.

Supporters of Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) led by Michel Aoun and the Lebanese Forces campaigned during the voting day appealing on voters to "to boycott the elections and mourn the death of democracy in Lebanon." The campaign was supported by a leaflet which was distributed to the public who were told comprehensively not to take part in the election.

Some entire Christian villages chose to boycott the elections as well. A monitor of the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE), Marwan al-Amine noticed the difference between the participation of Christian and Muslim voters: "Most of the Christian villages in Bint Jbeil boycotted the elections," adding: "The number of campaigners exceeded the number of voters in most of the Christian villages."

However, politicians are focusing on the election in the areas of Mount Lebanon, West Bekaa and the North, where the "real election battle" will take place, as it is believed.

The following third round will take place on 12th June in Mount Lebanon with 35 parliamentary seats allocated. Opposition movements will meet FPM leader Michel Aoun and will attempt to defeat his list and aid the opposition alliance led by Walid Jumblatt and the Christian opposition Qornet Shehwan Gathering.