A voter casts a ballot in Tripoli, North Lebanon, on May 11, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today.)
In the highly anticipated municipal battle of Zahle, the capital of the Bekaa, which will take place Sunday in this region, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM, Aounist) decided Saturday evening not to give any voting instructions to its supporters and sympathizers.
Two main lists will face off Sunday in this predominantly Greek-Catholic town: one supported by the Lebanese Forces, and the other by an alliance of Myriam Skaff’s Popular Bloc, the Kataeb, and independent deputies. All are influential actors in the city, as is the FPM.
In its statement, the FPM asserts "that neither of these lists has managed to convince it to provide political or popular support," assuring that it had "carried out a survey over the last 24 hours among the residents and families of the city." Following this survey, the party led by Deputy Gebran Bassil decided "to leave it up to supporters and sympathizers to vote according to their conviction." It thanked "the party's seven candidates for deciding to withdraw from the race in harmony with this decision."
Municipal elections are taking place Sunday in Beirut, in the Bekaa, and in the governorate of Baalbeck-Hermel. This is the third stage of this vote, which is occurring this year with a three-year delay.