Municipal By-Elections Held across Lebanon, Hbeish-Backed List Loses in al-Qoubaiyat

Municipal by-elections were held in a number of towns across Lebanon on Sunday, as the list backed by the Phalange Party, the Free Patriotic Movement, ex-MP Mikhail al-Daher and some Lebanese Forces figures was declared the winner in the Akkar town of al-Qoubaiyat.

The counting of votes started at 7:00 p.m. as polling stations closed in the various regions.

The by-elections, which did not witness any major security incidents, took place in 17 villages and towns in the districts of Mount Lebanon, the Bekaa, North, and South.

Army troops and security forces deployed in the areas witnessing elections to avert any possible unrest and ensure the safety of voters.

A fistfight erupted at a polling station for women in al-Bireh and the electoral process was suspended for 15 minutes, state-run National News Agency reported.

Thirty-one polling stations were distributed in al-Bireh, Kroum Arab, al-Sahleh, and Rmah in Akkar, reported various media outlets.

OTV said "5,290 out of 9,000 voters took part in the municipal by-elections in al-Qoubaiyat and the voter turnout reached 58.78%," amid a heated electoral battle between a list backed by Mustaqbal bloc MP Hadi Hbeish and the LF's leadership and another backed by the FPM, the Phalange Party and ex-MP Daher.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said from al-Qoubaiyat: "The by-elections confirm that despite all the incidents democracy still exists in Lebanon."

Elsewhere in the northern region of Akkar, elections took place in the town of Qlaiaat.

In Aley, by-elections were held in the towns of al-Kahhaleh and Sarahmoul.

Six ballot boxes were delivered to al-Kahhaleh and one to Sarahmoul.

In Zgharta, 170 out of 713 registered voters were expected to cast their ballots in the town of Basloukit to elect a nine-member municipal council.

In the South, 27 candidates were running for the municipal seats in the Jezzine town of Kafarhouna.

Some municipal councils have already won uncontested while others are likely to witness fierce battles between the March 8 majority and March 14 alliance candidates.