Large Voter Turnout in Lebanon Elections :: essays research papers

Many voters returned to their hometowns in Mount Lebanon, the countrys most populous province, and to the Bekaa Valley to blare their ballots in the third of four-spot rounds of staggered parliamentary elections, the first free of the dominance of Syrian forces in nearly three decades.Anti-Syrian forces need a strong video display in Sundays vote -- at least 45 seats for a majority -- to win a firm grasp on the 128-member Parliament and ablactate it of Damascus control. But the campaign has lead to some surprising alliances and some races were too close to call.Lines formed outside polling posts in Mount Lebanon, a great deal region surrounding capital of Lebanon and stretching north and south of the city.Halfway through the voting, turnout topped 50 percent in some areas, rosiness Minister Najib Mikati said.Michel Aoun, who recently bust with other opponents of Damascus and forged alliances with pro-Syrian politicians to form an anti-corruption ticket, was among the first t o vote. He arrived under heavy guard at a polling station Haret Hreik, a Shiite Muslim Confederate suburb of Beirut that is the stronghold of the pro-Syrian militant group al-Jihad.About 200 supporters cheered and applauded for the Christian leader, who returned home in May afterward 14 years exile in France.Aoun, who was making his first trip to his hometown in more than 20 years, said he hoped his Free Patriotic Movement would insertion in Parliament with at least 12 seats. In the end, we all bow before the peoples will, he told reporters.The former general was the main challenger of the anti-Syrian oppositeness in Mount Lebanon and his advantage could hurt the oppositions drive to gain a majority in the legislature and, depending on the number of seats he gains, could drive him a key fake in the effort to end Syrian control.Druse opposition leader Walid Jumblatt, who has claimed that pro-Syrians brought Aoun out of exile to divide the opposition, pledged not to get out th e former general to divert our victory.We are laying the foundations for a moderate, independent Lebanon, Jumblatt said of his alliance with right-wing Christians, Hezbollah and Saad Hariri, the son of the slain former prime(a) Rafik Hariri. Jumblatt, too, has forged alliances with pro-Syrians like Hezbollah and the Shiite Amal group.About 1.2 million men and women over 21 are eligible to vote Sunday. Some 100 candidates are competing in Mount Lebanon for 35 seats, allocated to divers(prenominal) sects according to Lebanons power-sharing political system.Large Voter Turnout in Lebanon Elections essays research papers Many voters returned to their hometowns in Mount Lebanon, the countrys most populous province, and to the Bekaa Valley to cast their ballots in the third of four rounds of staggered parliamentary elections, the first free of the dominance of Syrian forces in nearly three decades.Anti-Syrian forces need a strong showing in Sundays vote -- at least 45 seats for a ma jority -- to win a firm grasp on the 128-member Parliament and wean it of Damascus control. But the campaign has led to some surprising alliances and some races were too close to call.Lines formed outside polling stations in Mount Lebanon, a mountain region surrounding Beirut and stretching north and south of the city.Halfway through the voting, turnout topped 50 percent in some areas, Prime Minister Najib Mikati said.Michel Aoun, who recently broke with other opponents of Damascus and forged alliances with pro-Syrian politicians to form an anti-corruption ticket, was among the first to vote. He arrived under heavy guard at a polling station Haret Hreik, a Shiite Muslim southern suburb of Beirut that is the stronghold of the pro-Syrian militant group Hezbollah.About 200 supporters cheered and applauded for the Christian leader, who returned home in May after 14 years exile in France.Aoun, who was making his first trip to his hometown in more than 20 years, said he hoped his Free Pat riotic Movement would debut in Parliament with at least 12 seats. In the end, we all bow before the peoples will, he told reporters.The former general was the main challenger of the anti-Syrian opposition in Mount Lebanon and his success could hurt the oppositions drive to gain a majority in the legislature and, depending on the number of seats he gains, could make him a key player in the effort to end Syrian control.Druse opposition leader Walid Jumblatt, who has claimed that pro-Syrians brought Aoun out of exile to divide the opposition, pledged not to allow the former general to steal our victory.We are laying the foundations for a moderate, independent Lebanon, Jumblatt said of his alliance with right-wing Christians, Hezbollah and Saad Hariri, the son of the slain former Premier Rafik Hariri. Jumblatt, too, has forged alliances with pro-Syrians like Hezbollah and the Shiite Amal group.About 1.2 million men and women over 21 are eligible to vote Sunday. Some 100 candidates are c ompeting in Mount Lebanon for 35 seats, allocated to different sects according to Lebanons power-sharing political system.