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POLITICS

In Beirut I, the LF and the protest movement consolidate their presence

A quick reading of the results in Beirut I district.

In Beirut I, the LF and the protest movement consolidate their presence

LF and Kataeb workers on election day in Beirut. (Ibrahim Amro / AFP)

The constituency of Beirut I includes the Christian neighborhoods of Achrafieh, Rmeil, Saifi and Medawar: eight seats, including three Armenian-Orthodox, one Armenian-Catholic, one Maronite, one Greek-Orthodox, one Greek-Catholic and one for minorities. It is an area where traditional political formations persist. This did not prevent civil society groups from making their first breakthrough in 2018 with Paula Yaacoubian. Four years later, after the October 2019 demonstrations, and the August 2020 Beirut port explosion, the protest movement has made itself heard again, taking two seats in legislative elections.

For its part, the Free Patriotic Movement (two seats in 2018), deprived of an ally after Saad Hariri withdrew Sunni support it had enjoyed in 2018, was able to retain one seat but lost another. The Lebanese Forces, the FPM's main Christian rival, was able to broaden its representation by snatching an Armenian seat from the Tachnag party.

The results

- The FPM managed to re-elect Nicolas Sehnaoui (4,781 preferential votes) to the constituency's Greek-Catholic seat. It lost the minority seat held by Antoine Pano.

- The Tachnag party (two seats in 2018), a traditional ally of the FPM, could only retain one seat (Hagop Terzian with 2,647 preferential votes).

- For its part, the LF came out on top. In addition to keeping the Greek Orthodox seat (now held by Imad Wakim, who will be replaced by Ghassan Hasbani, accredited with 7,080 preferential votes), Samir Geagea's party was able to win an Armenian Orthodox seat, that of Jihad Pakradouni (2,186 preferential votes).

- The Kataeb returned Nadim Gemayel, son of Bashir Gemayel, whose traditional stronghold is Achrafieh, to the constituency’s Maronite seat. He was re-elected with 4,425 preferential votes.

- The only Armenian-Catholic seat remains in the hands of Jean Talouzian (4,043 votes), who entered the battle by allying himself with the Kataeb and banker Antoun Sehnaoui.

- In a repeat of the 2018 scenario, Paula Yaacoubian made a breakthrough on behalf of the protest movement winning 3,524 votes in Beirut I. Due to the eccentricities of the electoral law, Cynthia Zarazir, Yaacoubian's running mate, needed only 486 preferential votes to win the minority seat.

What to remember

- The crisis and the explosion at the port of Beirut have taken their toll on the strength of the CPL and Tachnag in this constituency. The Aounist bloc lost half of its seats there. A weakening that benefited the LF and the protest.

The constituency of Beirut I includes the Christian neighborhoods of Achrafieh, Rmeil, Saifi and Medawar: eight seats, including three Armenian-Orthodox, one Armenian-Catholic, one Maronite, one Greek-Orthodox, one Greek-Catholic and one for minorities. It is an area where traditional political formations persist. This did not prevent civil society groups from making their first breakthrough in...