Kataeb-backed lawyer Fadi Masri was elected president of the Beirut Bar Association on Sunday. (Credit: Hussam Chbaro)
BEIRUT — Kataeb-backed lawyer Fadi Masri was elected president of the Beirut Bar Association on Sunday with 1,973 votes, against Lebanese Forces-backed Abdo Lahoud, who received 1,950 votes, L'Orient-Le Jour's journalist on the scene reported.
Earlier, Labib Harfouche, Abdo Lahoud, Fadi Masri, Elie Klimos, Iskandar Elias and Wajih Massaad were elected members of the Beirut Bar Council. Elected for a two-year term, they received 2,264, 2,031, 1,920, 1,869, 1,843 and 1,531 votes respectively.
Alexandre Najjar, who received 1,528 votes, was elected deputy member. Najjar, who was running for the presidency of the Order, was therefore not allowed to stand in the second round of the election of the President of the Bar.
Iskandar Elias and Wajih Massaad were no longer eligible to stand for BBA because they had to serve a one-year term as members, whereas the term of office of the president is two years.
Composed of 12 members, the council is renewed annually by thirds, through the election of four lawyers, for a three-year term. Six seats were up for election this year, as two additional seats were vacant: Wajih Massaad and Alexandre Najjar, who had one year left on their terms, resigned last October to take part in the first ballot and run for the position of President of the Bar.
Election in Tripoli
In North Lebanon, the Tripoli Bar Association elected Sami el-Hassan as its new president, state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported. He won the election after the withdrawal of his rival, Safwan Moustapha, the NNA added.
Reporting contributed by Claude Assaf
