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Tomorrow, Saturday, May 24, 2025, nearly one million voters (993,582) in Southern Lebanon will cast their ballots to elect 3,486 municipal councilors and 781 mukhtars across 272 municipal councils.
This Saturday also marks the end of this municipal election month, the first in 9 years; the last elections were held in 2016
Ninety-five municipal councils (35%) were elected unopposed due to a lack of competing candidates, raising serious concerns about political disengagement and the degree of control over the electoral process in Southern Lebanon. Despite recent political and military setbacks, both locally and regionally, the Hezbollah-Amal alliance continues to maintain firm control over a region still scarred by militia conflicts tied to this pro-Iranian group.
A devastating war and villages left in ruins, yet a resolute political determination to maintain control: this explains the duo’s refusal to establish large voting centers in more accessible urban areas—centers that would have enabled greater voter participation.
In the Shia strongholds of Tyre, Nabatiyeh, Bint Jbeil, Hasbaya, and Marjayoun, the Hezbollah-Amal alliance is mobilizing its base. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem and Amal leader and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri have urged a massive turnout to secure a “crushing” victory.
Despite limited opposition, mostly from independent lists, the Amal-Hezbollah duo’s dominance in these regions remains strong. Still, this election is regarded as a crucial test of political loyalty, a barometer of popular discontent, and a measure of the parties’ ability to mobilize an exhausted electorate.
Jezzine: Final Nail in the Aounists’ Coffin?
In Jezzine, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) faces a critical showdown. Following a string of defeats in major Christian elections over the past three Sundays—and in the Saida-Jezzine district during the 2022 legislative polls—the party is desperate to restore its image. To bolster its chances, it has allied with former MP Ibrahim Azar of the Amal Movement to present a unified list. Opposing them is a coalition of prominent local families, backed by the Lebanese Forces (LF) and the Kataeb Party, determined to claim victory. Meanwhile, former MP Ziad Assouad, a disgruntled ex-FPM member clashing with Gebran Bassil, may encourage his supporters to split their votes.
The race is tight and could be decided by just a few votes. A breakthrough for the sovereigntist coalition would be a severe blow to Gebran Bassil, who struggles to defend his ideas and more precisely, his interests.
Saida: Another Intense Battle for Sunni Leadership
In Saida, five competing lists are engaged in a fierce contest for Sunni leadership. The absence of Saad Hariri has left a significant power vacuum that several figures are eager to fill. Although retired from active politics, Bahia Hariri remains a key influencer behind the scenes. This election could once again reshape the power dynamics within the local Sunni community, echoing similar shifts in Beirut and Tripoli.
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