In May, the Lebanese concluded country-wide municipal and mayoral elections—their first in nine years—on the heels of Joseph Aoun filling Beirut’s two-year presidential vacancy, and an uncharacteristically speedy appointment of a prime minister and cabinet.
Mere momentum should not be equated with long-term progress towards stabilization, particularly with respect to Hezbollah’s disarmament. The municipal election results did not demonstrate the prominent militant group’s outright dominance over Lebanon’s Shiites. However, Hezbollah nevertheless retains preponderant popularity among them and influence over their electoral and political choices. However, as Hezbollah dubbed them, these elections were a “promotional event” for the real prize: the May 2026 legislative elections. If the group can then expand upon its recent electoral success, and if Aoun’s interminable dialogue with Hezbollah over its arms ever becomes serious, then it can leverage its popular and political weight to steer those discussions toward an outcome allowing it to retain its arms.
riderfan3728 on
Lebanon is probably the only country that I would vote for a right wing Christian party with nationalist undertones. They are the only ones who want to aggressively take on Hezbollah and implement the pro-market socio-economic reforms that will help Lebanon recover. And then when Hezbollah is disarmed and they are treated like any other party, then I’d switch to some secular liberal party. But until then, I hope the Lebanese Forces party secures total control over the government.
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Lebanon’s political machine is moving again.
In May, the Lebanese concluded country-wide municipal and mayoral elections—their first in nine years—on the heels of Joseph Aoun filling Beirut’s two-year presidential vacancy, and an uncharacteristically speedy appointment of a prime minister and cabinet.
Mere momentum should not be equated with long-term progress towards stabilization, particularly with respect to Hezbollah’s disarmament. The municipal election results did not demonstrate the prominent militant group’s outright dominance over Lebanon’s Shiites. However, Hezbollah nevertheless retains preponderant popularity among them and influence over their electoral and political choices. However, as Hezbollah dubbed them, these elections were a “promotional event” for the real prize: the May 2026 legislative elections. If the group can then expand upon its recent electoral success, and if Aoun’s interminable dialogue with Hezbollah over its arms ever becomes serious, then it can leverage its popular and political weight to steer those discussions toward an outcome allowing it to retain its arms.
Lebanon is probably the only country that I would vote for a right wing Christian party with nationalist undertones. They are the only ones who want to aggressively take on Hezbollah and implement the pro-market socio-economic reforms that will help Lebanon recover. And then when Hezbollah is disarmed and they are treated like any other party, then I’d switch to some secular liberal party. But until then, I hope the Lebanese Forces party secures total control over the government.