The Lebanese extremist Hezbollah and its allies, it seems, achieved a somewhat worse result in yesterday's parliamentary elections, as their opponents won more parliamentary mandates, and some traditional partners will not enter the parliament, the first voting results published today showed.
Despite this, Hezbollah and its Shia ally Amal, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, are likely to retain 27 seats.
Unofficial results show that independent candidates, including those from the protest movement due to the economic crisis that began in 2019, have achieved success and some long-time politicians will no longer be MPs.
Sunday's closely watched election was the first since a severe economic crisis erupted in October 2019 and nationwide protests against a ruling class accused of decades of corruption and mismanagement.
It was also the first election since the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut in August 2020, which killed more than 200 people, injured thousands and destroyed parts of the capital.
The explosion of nearly 3.000 tons of poorly stored ammonium nitrate is believed to be the result of negligence.
The Saudi-backed Christian Lebanese Forces party, one of the biggest critics of pro-Iranian Hezbollah, is said to have won at least 20 seats, five more than in the previous election held in 2018.
It will be the largest Christian bloc in parliament and will replace the Free Patriotic Movement, which was founded by Lebanese President Michel Aoun and has been an ally of Hezbollah since 2006.
Independent candidates have also achieved significant success, but are far from bringing about change as the main winners appear to be the largest political groups.
A strong ally of Hezbollah in the south of Lebanon has reportedly lost his mandate and will be replaced by an independent candidate, and another independent candidate, Mark Daou, has announced that he is headed for a big victory.
He ran against Druze politician Talal Arslan.
Elections in Lebanon are held every four years and a new parliament will elect a new president when Aoun's term ends in October.
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