BEIRUT — The US State Department said Friday that it “welcomes that parliamentary elections in Lebanon were held on time and without major security incidents,” and urged the political class to form a government.
Here’s what we know:
• In a statement, the State Department congratulated the “Lebanese people “on their participation despite challenging circumstances.”
• The statement gave a nod to the role the Lebanese Armed Forces, a major recipient of United States aid, and Internal Security Forces played in “supporting the process and maintaining security.”
• “We share the concerns raised by our partners in the international community of allegations of vote buying, clientelism, and reports of intimidation,” the statement added.
• The Lebanese Association for Democratic Election issued several reports prior to the elections documenting incidents of vote buying, clientelism and intimidation towards some parties’ candidates and supporters. A European Union observation mission also noted that the elections were “overshadowed by widespread practices of vote buying and clientelism, which distorted the level playing field and seriously affected the voters’ choice.”
• The statement urged “those elected and the country’s political leaders to heed the Lebanese people’s call for change and to work seriously, and with urgency, to take the necessary actions to rescue the economy,” adding, “We also urge the swift formation of a government capable of and committed to undertaking the hard work required to restore the confidence of the Lebanese people and the international community.”
• Hezbollah, which is considered a terrorist organization by the US, appears along with its allies to have lost the majority bloc in Parliament in the wake of the elections.