Voters participating in the municipal elections in Mount Lebanon on May 4, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today.).
Nominations for the two governorates of South Lebanon and Nabatieh officially closed from Tuesday night to Wednesday, as the fourth phase of municipal elections is scheduled for Saturday, May 24, following Mount Lebanon (May 4) and North Lebanon (May 11), Beirut, and the Bekaa (May 18).
This penultimate electoral phase is all the more important because the southern regions, traditionally strongholds of the Amal and Hezbollah, were the scene of the destructive war in 2023-2024 between Hezbollah and Israel and are still targeted by Israeli strikes despite the cease-fire on November 27.
After the end of candidate submissions, candidates have a limited period to withdraw, after which the total number of councils elected by acclamation can be announced, noting that, already, a number of municipal councils have been elected by acclamation in these regions.
In the governorate of Nabatieh, which includes the districts of Bint Jbeil and Marjayoun, 918 candidates for municipal seats and 308 for mukhtars' seats will compete for positions in 40 towns and villages. On the last day alone, 203 applications for the municipal elections and 57 for the mukhtars were recorded, demonstrating some enthusiasm for this election. In just the district of Bint Jbeil, the number of applications for municipal councils reached 787, along with 343 for mukhtars' positions.
In the district of Sour, the number of municipal candidates was 1,152 at the time of closure. In several villages, municipal councils were elected by acclamation: Arzoun, al-Bass, Rashidieh, al-Hennieh, al-Zaloutieh, al-Kneisseh, Baflay, Bethtiyat, Derdghaya, Shabriha, the so-called Orthodox neighborhood in Sour, Mahrouneh, Nafakhiyeh, and Wadi Jilo.
In the district of Saida, the total number of candidates for municipal elections is 1,145 for municipal councils, including 111 for the city, as well as 324 for the mukhtars' seats.
In the district of Jezzine, municipal councils in nine villages are elected by acclamation: Wadi al-Laymoun, Kfarjarra, Azour, Wadi Jezzine, Karkha, Qattine and Hdab, Homsieh, Saidoun, and Jarnaya. In the city of Jezzine, two complete lists of 18 members each will face off on May 24.
Municipal elections in Lebanon are taking place with a three-year delay due to successive crises in the country. Municipal councils and mukhtars are elected for a six-year term.