Salim Ghazaleh, head of the "Heart of Zahle" list, supported by the Lebanese Forces, at a polling station on May 18, 2025. (Credit: Renee Davis/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea late Sunday celebrated the victory of a list backed by his party in the Bekaa city of Zahle, calling it a “double score” win over the main rival list during the third round of Lebanon’s municipal elections.
Speaking from Maarab shortly before midnight, Geagea said the Lebanese Forces had won “alone against all.” He praised the residents of Zahle for choosing “sovereignty and Lebanon,” adding, “They do not enter Zahle, neither now nor later” — a phrase commonly used by LF supporters to suggest that Hezbollah and its allies, including the Free Patriotic Movement, cannot gain political ground in the city.
“Today, we proved that Zahle is the Lebanese Forces and the Lebanese Forces are Zahle,” Geagea declared, saying the list supported by his party had won twice as many votes as its competitors. “The electoral battle is over, and tomorrow is a new day for Zahle.”
Geagea was also asked about the LF’s controversial alliance with Hezbollah in Beirut’s municipal race, despite the deep political rift between the two parties. He replied, “Our position on Hezbollah is clear, but in Beirut, the absolute priority was to preserve confessional parity.”
In al-Qaa, a border village in the Baalbeck-Hermel governorate, a list led by former municipal president Bachir Matar and backed by the LF also won the local elections.
Hezbollah and Amal celebrate wins across the region
Meanwhile, around midnight, preliminary results from Hezbollah’s electoral machine showed sweeping victories for the Hezbollah and Amal Movement alliance in the Baalbeck region.
In Baalbeck itself, the Hezbollah-Amal list reportedly won all municipal seats. The two parties also claimed victories in Douris, Ali al-Nahri, Rayak, Iaat, Hermel, Hazzarta, Taalabaya, Ain, Labweh, Nabi Othman, Bednayel, Brital, Ain Bourday, Bouday, Sarain, Nabi Sheet, Ksarnaba and Hawsh al-Rafqa.
In Mashghara, West Bekaa, the alliance's supported list also won, according to Hezbollah.
