BEIRUT — In an attempt to boycott the 2022 parliament elections, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s supporters in Tariq al-Jadideh set up two inflatable pools in the neighborhood and carried out a pool party, L'Orient Today correspondents report.

Citizens who have boycotted the 2022 parliamentary elections sit near an inflatable pool in the middle of the street in Tariq al-Jadideh. After former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said he would not participate in the parliamentary elections, many of his supporters are boycotting the elections. (Credit: Kabalan Farah/L'Orient Today)

A big pool was situated on Soleiman Boustani street and another smaller but much more crowded one was set up in Berjaoui. More than 100 people were sitting next to the Berjaoui pool while music played and some smoked shisha.

In Tarik al-Jadideh’s Berjaoui street, Rabih el-Omari said, “We are boycotting the elections because we feel it is the same result whether we vote or not. It is clear who is running the country and we want to prove that the low turnout within the Sunni sect discredits the results of the elections.” Omari added, “the pool is to show that it is not an election day for us.”

An inflatable pool sits in the middle of the street in Tariq al-Jadideh on election day. After former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said he would not participate in the parliamentary elections, many of his supporters are boycotting the elections. (Credit: Kabalan Farah/L'Orient Today)

Nadim Habli, also a Future Movement supporter, said: “We are boycotting the elections following Saad Hariri’s decision. When we vote Hariri, it is impossible to vote for someone else, it is like moving from the seventh floor to the basement. We don’t care who will win, in all cases we are governed by Hezbollah.”

 As of 3 p.m., there was an approximate 23 percent turnout of voters in Beirut II. Beirutis took to social media to circulate encouraging messages to other citizens to vote in Beirut.

 “We still want 55,000 votes in Beirut II. Let's raise the electoral threshold…those who didn't vote, go down and vote. Those who voted, call your family and make sure they voted. Voting time will not be extended. Let’s all vote before 7 pm,” a message on WhatsApp wrote.