HEAVY BLOW: Resistance Front Hezbollah, Amal Sweep Majority of Seats in Parliament
Hezbollah and Amal Movement swept Shiite seats in the Lebanese Parliament in Sunday’s vote, despite heavy efforts by rivals, especially the Lebanese Forces, to set a blow to the Shiite duo’s popular base.
According to preliminary results obtained by the electoral machines of both the Shiite duo and their rivals, Hezbollah and Amal gained 27 seats out of 27 Shiite seats, compared to 26 seats in the last elections in 2018.
Head of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to Resistance MP Mohammad Raad earned the highest number of preferential votes in Lebanon with nearly 50,000 Lebanese citizens gave him their votes in South III district.
Hezbollah’s candidate in Mount Lebanon I district (Keserwan, Jbeil) Raed Berro has reportedly gained the Shiite seat which was lost by Hezbollah in 2018.
If confirmed by the Lebanese Interior Ministry’s official results, Hezbollah and Amal are seen as firm and strong powers in the country due to unprecedented campaigns by the Lebanese Forces Party which has raised ‘disarming Hezbollah’ as one of its main electoral topics.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s allies suffered several setbacks, with several seats were lost in favor of independent hopefuls and Saudi-backed Lebanese Forces candidates.
Free Patriotic Movement gained nearly 16 sets in the Parliament compared to 29 seats (FPM with its Christian allies) in 2018.
Hezbollah’s allies Wiam Wahhab and Talal Arslan lost their seats in Mount Lebanon IV district.
In north Lebanon Faisal Karami also lost his seat, according to preliminary results.
For its part, Saudi-backed Lebanese Forces Party has reportedly won nearly 19 seats, compared to 15 seats in 2018.
