‘Ballot box revolution’: Lebanon holds parliamentary elections
Al JazeeraOct 19, 2022
The Facts
The Iran-backed Shia'a militant group, Hezbollah, has lost its majority in parliament in Lebanon's elections. Previously, Hezbollah and its allies won 71 seats in the last elections of 2018.
Lebanon headed to the polls on Sun. for the country's first elections since the 2019 "Oct. 17 Revolution" and beginning of its economic crisis, with 128 seats in Parliament up for grabs.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The Lebanese people have shown that they're fed up with Hezbollah's continued dominance over their country. Now that Hezbollah and its allies have lost their majority in parliament, the country's future may become brighter.
Establishment-critical narrative
The Free Patriotic Movement losses are due to American and Israeli interference. The West and its allies are fighting to keep a toe-hold in the Middle East and sought to undermine Lebanon's sovereignty by supporting opposition groups and the Lebanese Forces.
Cynical narrative
Though Sunday's elections present some real hope that Lebanon's corrupt political regime may change, the election itself will not have much of an impact on the country's current political and economic situation. Established political parties are far too entrenched and the corruption runs too deep for change to occur overnight, but at least the ball is now finally rolling.
