Municipal and mayoral elections in North Lebanon and Akkar concluded yesterday at 7:00 p.m., with vote counting commencing shortly thereafter. Preliminary results have already been finalized in several districts, with wide disparities in voter turnout.
Batroun recorded the highest voter turnout at 38.77%, while Tripoli had the lowest at just 16.24%, according to the Ministry of Interior. Other turnout rates included:
- Minieh-Dinnieh: 35.32%
- Akkar: 33.71%
- Zgharta: 30.21%
- Koura: 29.76%
- Bsharri: 26.42%
These figures reflect a general trend of low participation.
Celebratory Gunfire and Casualties
As results were announced, celebratory gunfire erupted across several towns in North Lebanon and Akkar, leading to tragic consequences.
Reports indicate that one child was hit and killed by a stray bullet. LBCI also reported a fatality in the town of Ain al-Dehab, Akkar, though it remains unclear if this refers to the same incident.
The Lebanese channel also reported that one of its journalists, Nada Andraos, was struck by a stray bullet in Tripoli. The head of the Lebanese Press Editors Syndicate, Joseph Kosseifi, condemned the ongoing phenomenon of celebratory gunfire and extended his well wishes to Andraos.
Pro-Change List Secures Historical Record in Bsharri
In the town of Bcharre, North Lebanon, which has historically been dominated by the Lebanese Forces party, pro-change list “Bsharri Sawa Akwa” secured a historically significant result.
While it did not win outright, the list’s top candidate, Dr. Youssef Tawk, garnered 44% of the vote — a notable shift in a traditionally one-party town.
Violations During the Voting Process
The elections were marred with numerous violations, disruptions and clashes across different districts. By 15:24, the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities had recorded a total of 405 complaints during the elections process according to LBCI, with the Akkar district accounting for 43% of the total, followed by Tripoli at 29%.
Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Ahmad al-Hajjar, confirmed that “the number of clashes exceeded the number of complaints in the Akkar and North governorates’ elections”. He added that complaints were administrative and security-related, and that interventions were quick and sometimes included support from the Lebanese Army.
Voting was halted in a number of occasions across different districts. Examples include an altercation inside a polling station in the town of Martouma, Akkar. Clashes also erupted in Bhannine between supporters of rival lists, which required the intervention of the Lebanese Army and security forces to allow the voting process to resume.
In Chekka, authorities detained an individual for allegedly confiscating the ID cards of a man and his wife, according to the National News Agency.
The municipal and mayoral elections will continue in the coming weeks. On Sunday, May 18, voting will take place in the Beirut, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel governorates. The final round is scheduled for May 25, covering South Lebanon and Nabatieh.
