A man dipping his thumb into an ink bottle after casting his vote in Beirut, May 18, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmed Hajjar said that "all measures have been taken to accelerate the ballot counting and the publication of results" in the ongoing municipal elections, which saw a third round of voting on Sunday, this time in Beirut and the Bekaa.
His statement came amid rising tensions after last week’s vote count in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, sparked protests. More than one million voters were registered to participate in Sunday’s elections.
Hajjar expressed hope that Beirut voters would choose candidates who "best represent them," noting that turnout in the capital was low throughout the day. By 6 p.m., an hour before polls closed, voter participation in Beirut had reached just over 18 percent, compared to 41 percent in Baalbeck-Hermel and 38.35 percent in the Bekaa. He said the overall turnout was roughly on par with the 2016 municipal elections.
Justice Minister Adel Nassar visited the Interior Ministry at the end of the election day, where he and Interior Minister Bassam Hajjar reviewed the electoral process.
“The most important thing is that the results are accurate,” Nassar said, addressing concerns about the voter rolls. “As soon as voting ends, judges will make the necessary rectifications in the presence of the scrutineers.” He praised the “democratic work” carried out and added, “Elections are the people’s right.” For his part, Hajjar highlighted “the mobilization of voters in Beirut in the afternoon.”
According to the Interior Ministry, voter turnout in the capital was 21.03 percent at the close of polling stations, compared with 20.16 percent in 2016.
Minor incidents
Several incidents marked election day on Sunday. In Western Bekaa’s Hosh al-Harimeh, tensions between candidates from rival lists disrupted voting and escalated into a brawl. In Qamed al-Loz, shots were fired into the air, but no injuries were reported. An argument also erupted at a polling station in Ghazzeh Public High School between Internal Security Forces and some delegates.
The Lebanese army intervened in these incidents and made several arrests. Additional altercations occurred in Karak, in the Zahle district, and in Fakiha, Baalbek-Hermel, prompting further troop involvement.
Earlier Sunday, during a visit to a polling station at Omar Fakhoury Public School in Jnah, Hajjar said "Beirut deserves a municipal council that represents it with dignity." He expressed hope that voter turnout would improve as the day progressed.
Hajjar also toured the Bekaa region, including Zahle and Baalbeck-Hermel districts, where he said the electoral process was proceeding "satisfactorily, despite a few minor security incidents that were quickly controlled."
The minister reminded the public that prosecutions are ongoing against those who fired celebratory shots following the results of North Lebanon's municipal elections and urged citizens "not to repeat such behavior in the Bekaa and in Beirut."
"We hope to put an end to this phenomenon," he said.
On Friday, the Lebanese Army announced the arrest of 86 people suspected of firing celebratory gunfire in Mount Lebanon on May 4, and in northern Lebanon and Akkar on May 11. The army said it continues to monitor security and conduct operations to apprehend those responsible.
Parliament on Thursday approved a law doubling penalties for celebratory gunfire. The legislation, introduced by MP Achraf Beydoun, amends a 2016 law criminalizing such acts by increasing the associated punishments. The new measures follow incidents in Tripoli on Sunday evening, when two people were wounded by stray bullets, including LBCI journalist Nada Andraos and a young man in critical condition, after municipal election results were announced.
Suspicion of vote-buying near Zahle
"The state today confirms respect for constitutional rights and the Lebanese people’s right to express their opinions, and the process is proceeding democratically," Hajjar said. "If there were any problems, security forces were present, but the overall situation was good," he added.
Addressing recent incidents, Hajjar mentioned some isolated security issues and reports of vote-buying in Ma'allaka, Zahle, which required law enforcement intervention. "The individual was arrested and is under investigation," he said.
On the election results, Hajjar said the government’s approach is to respect the outcomes. "There is no room for violating legislation, neither by the government nor by the Interior Ministry," he noted.
Sunday marked the third day of municipal and muktar elections. The final day of voting is scheduled for Saturday, May 24, in southern Lebanon and Nabatieh, coinciding with the anniversary of the liberation of southern Lebanon in 2000.