In a polling station in Mount Lebanon, on May 4, a policeman and a lady walk down the corridors. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today.)
The second election Sunday, held in Northern Lebanon and Akkar, did not proceed without incident: 675 complaints and claims were recorded, including 143 security incidents and nearly 120 altercations and fights that disrupted the process, according to a report released Monday by Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar.
During a press conference, Hajjar stated that “the electoral process in the North and Akkar proceeded satisfactorily despite certain difficulties that arose from Saturday and persisted partly on Sunday, notably security incidents in some centers.”
In this context, the minister reported seven arrests “due to security incidents” and revealed that 15 cases of “suspected electoral fraud are under verification,” also mentioning a potential case of document falsification in which a suspect was arrested. Following the shootings that occurred after the announcement of results, which left “several injured, including one serious case,” he called on citizens “to stop this practice.” An LBCI journalist, Nada Andraos, and a young man from Akkar, Mohammad Khaled, were notably injured by stray bullets from intense celebratory gunfire that caused chaotic scenes in several regions of Northern Lebanon on Sunday night after the announcement of municipal election results.
“Arrests are underway, the Lebanese Army has launched searches, and 34 people have been arrested so far,” said Hajjar. “Efforts are ongoing to prohibit the possession of weapons without a permit and to extend the authority of the State throughout Lebanese territory. The State takes this seriously. The shootings come from citizens and not from a particular party. Serious prosecutions will be initiated against the shooters,” he added.
Apart from security incidents, the minister also spoke about the exchange with the governor of Northern Lebanon, Ramzi Nohra, the day before. During his press reporting, Hajjar had sternly silenced the governor, who was commenting on his statements, by retorting that he was “currently speaking.” Commenting on this exchange, he stated that a person “filed a complaint against the behavior of the governor who wanted to defend himself. It was inappropriate to do so in front of the media. I asked him to let me exercise my right to reply. No one is above accountability and every official must be held responsible for their actions.”
The minister also confirmed the turnout rates in the North and Akkar, which reached 43.29%, that is 37.25% in the North and 49.33% in Akkar.
Shooting in the air a ‘shameful phenomenon,’ says Salam
In a separate statement, the Interior Ministry denied information circulating on social networks about a ballot box allegedly stolen in Akkar. “All ballot boxes from the two governorates” where the elections were held on Sunday “were received after counting, under the supervision of the Internal Security Forces,” specified the ministry's press office. Interior Ministry also announced that it published on its website the final results of the elections for the Becharreh district.
For his part, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam highlighted that “the elections in the North were successful due to the responsible management of the Interior Ministry.” He affirmed that “strict measures” will be applied to combat electoral corruption and that investigations are underway to reach the sources of this corruption and initiate legal proceedings. “No one will be shielded,” he added in a statement. Regarding celebratory shooting, Salam indicated that they are “morally and legally unacceptable” and are a “shameful and backward phenomenon that must stop.” “The concerned security agencies, particularly the military, have arrested many shooters,” he stated.
Next Sunday, it will be the turn of voters in Beirut and Bekaa to go to the polls, followed by those in Southern Lebanon on Saturday, May 24.
