LF-backed Martinos becomes new Beirut Bar Association president after record-high voter turnout

At the end of a day of voting marked by a record turnout, with more than 5,000 lawyers casting their ballots, Imad Martinos, backed by the Lebanese Forces (LF), was elected president of the Beirut Bar Association on Sunday, succeeding Fadi Masri.

In the second round of voting, Martinos faced Elie Bazerli, who enjoyed the support of most of the other traditional Lebanese parties, including the Kataeb, the Hezbollah-Amal alliance and the Future Movement, and won with 2,416 votes to Masri's 2,042.

Martinos led the first round with 3,010 votes, while Bazerli received 2,778.

Six other council members were elected: Marwan Jabre (independent, supported by the LF, with 2,559 votes), Maurice Gemayel (supported by the Kataeb Party, 1,996 votes), Nadim Hamadeh (independent, supported by the LF and the Progressive Socialist Party, with 1,852 votes), Elie Hashash (supported by the LF, with 1,798 votes), Georges Yazbeck (independent, supported by the LF, with 1,784 votes) and Wajih Massaad (independent, without party affiliation, with 1,784 votes).

The alternate member elected was Wassim Abou Tayeh, a candidate of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), who garnered 1,751 votes after an alliance between the Kataeb Party and the FPM.

None of the four women among the 20 candidates was elected.

The second round will therefore be Martinos against Bazerli, following Massaad's withdrawal.

Commenting on his first-round score to L'Orient-Le Jour, Martinos stated that the results showed that lawyers affiliated with political parties did not follow voting instructions. "That's the very essence of lawyers' independence," he declared.

The high turnout at polling stations had prompted the authorities to postpone the closing of the polls by more than two hours.

About 50 polling stations have been set up in the main hall and on the first floor, according to L’Orient-Le Jour. Given the turnout, about a hundred people were lined up just to enter the building. In the outer courtyard, booths for the different candidates have been set up.

Typically, elections cover four positions, as the 12-member Council is renewed by a third each year. But with the vote canceled in 2024 due to the war between Hezbollah and Israel, double the usual seats are exceptionally up for grabs this year.

About 7,700 lawyers who have paid their annual dues will have to choose eight from the 20 candidates. A draw will then determine which winners will serve for three years and which for two, in order to restore the usual staggered renewal schedule.

Martinos speech

In his address following his election, Martinos promised that under his leadership, "the Beirut Bar Association will be a voice that doesn't follow others, a proactive, not passive, voice. I will be the president of action and giving," he declared.

"I am ready for many things; help me achieve them," he urged, announcing a general assembly within two months to approve the Bar Association's budget, which had been rejected for the past three years.

This budget will be presented after a "transparent audit," he pledged. He also asked the outgoing president, Fadi Masri, who still has a year left on the council, to be present "by his side."

Partisan alliances

While the campaign has been marked by invitations to lavish dinners to convince colleagues to support the different candidates, lawyer Jean Fahed, interviewed by our publication, lamented this phenomenon, which has become “the norm” for voting, instead of debates over ideas and programs.

He also regretted the predominance of “partisan” alliances in the order’s elections.

While Pierre Hanna and Wajih Massaad present themselves as independents, Imad Martinos is the official candidate for the Lebanese Forces, and Bazerli is also an independent but backed by the Kataeb party.

While the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) stated in recent days that it would ally itself with several Christian parties to ensure its candidate, Toufic Noueiry, was elected to the Council, it ultimately decided on Sunday to ally with Bazerli.

Meanwhile, Yasser Ali Ahmad, head of the Beirut lawyers' group within the Amal movement, reported an alliance with Hezbollah, the Kataeb, the Progressive Socialist Party and the Free Patriotic Movement to support Bazerli for Council president.

According to attorney Nisrine Ramadan, who was on site, the high number of voters, higher than in previous elections, is mainly explained by the “campaigns” led by political parties in recent weeks.