Shamaluna's launch ceremony in November 2021. (Credit: Shamaluna Facebook page)
BEIRUT — Shamaluna, an alliance of independent groups in North Lebanon, announced Friday the names of their candidates who will participate in their primary elections on Feb. 27 ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for May 15.
Here’s what we know:
• In a ceremony announcing the candidates, Shamaluna’s co-founder Bechara Gerges said the motivation for holding a primary election is “to firstly give the citizens the right to decide who participates in their battles and, secondly, to provide a platform for them to decide who is better for such a mission.”
• Gerges also asked people who vote in the districts of Koura, Zgharta and Batroun, where the coalition is running, to register on their website and participate in their primaries.
• Shamaluna’s co-founder also asked voters to contribute funding “so that we become isolated from the regional policies that are planned outside of Lebanon,” he said in reference to the traditional politicians, many of whom are affiliated with foreign countries.
• Shamaluna is one of three main opposition coalitions that have been announced to this date. The others are “April 13,” which includes Mintishreen and the National Bloc; and “The Lebanese Opposition Front,” which includes Taqaddom, Mouawad’s Independence Movement and Kataeb, among others.