BEIRUT — The Election Supervisory Commission on Thursday listed several violations observed during the parliamentary election day on Sunday.
Here’s what we know:
• In a statement, the commission pointed out vote-buying practices, an increase in intimidation and threatening speeches as well as the disregard of electoral silence.
• "The commission has identified vote-buying offenses by networks set up by various candidates, lists and political parties," the organization said. The commission also noted an increase in "intimidating and threatening speeches from some candidates, which fueled sectarianism and distorted the electoral process.”
• Another troubling issue raised by the organization is the disregard for electoral silence, according to which electoral slogans can not be relayed either by the candidates, their representatives or by the media 24 hours before voting days. This period of silence lasts until polling stations close.
• "On Sunday, May 15, there was a very large number of violations of electoral silence by all the media, candidates, lists and political parties," said the commission, which identified 324 violations related to electoral silence. The commission however specified that the electoral silence has been however fairly respected during the vote of the Lebanese expatriates, which took place on May 6 and 8 and the elections for the civil servants mobilized for the organization of the elections on Sunday which took place on May 12.
