Lebanon Has First Local Election for Nearly 10 Years
-
Neeta Mishra
- . May 5, 2025
- . Update: May 5, 2025 7:12 pm
On Sunday, Lebanon held the first rounds of local elections in nearly ten years, starting with the Mount Lebanon districts, including portions of Beirut. There are over 9,300 candidates, including nearly 1,200 women, contesting seats in 333 municipal councils.
The election is perhaps the most important political movement in the country after years of political deadlock and economic collapse and civil disturbances. According to President Joseph Aoun, the elections are an important step toward the reconstruction of state institutions and public trust. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also called all voters to take the step towards decentralization and vote in huge numbers.
Come evening, voter turnout surpassed 35 percent, and voting continues in other areas all May. Beirut and Bekaa go to the polls next on May 18, followed by the war-hit southern regions on May 24.
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The elections witnessed heavy competition from the main parties like Hezbollah, the Free Patriotic Movement, Lebanese Forces, and civil society groups while being mostly local in nature. Some voters reported irregularities, including pressures inside polling stations.
If anything, the emerging competition bodes well for a country that longs for stability and reform. In a changing political landscape, these elections may signal the way to 2026 parliamentary polls.
