Amal

Lebanon’s Shia Bloc and the Emigrant Vote Dilemma

Lebanese emigrants have found themselves entangled in a crisis not of their making—namely, the existential crisis of the Shia community amid unfolding developments across the Middle East. Calls to amend the provision governing emigrant voting—whether by assigning them to Electoral District 16 or allowing them to vote for MPs in their home ...

Lebanon at a Crossroads: Chaos or a Place in the New Regional Order

Lebanon is closely monitoring the unfolding Iranian-Israeli war - a conflict it has kept at arm’s length, but whose fallout is certain to reach its borders. The real test is whether the government will be able to leverage the outcome to its advantage. Hezbollah resents being forced to remain on the sidelines of a war it sees as a sacred duty, ...

Post-May 25, 2000: A String of Blunders

A quarter-century is a brief chapter in the life of a nation. But for a population held hostage for decades by war and relentless existential crises – driven by the unchecked ambitions of regional powers and factions – it can feel like an era. On May 25, 2000, Hezbollah staged a major celebration to mark the withdrawal of the last Israeli ...

Amid the Rubble, Nabatiyeh Votes

In a city scarred by war, where campaign posters hang beside portraits of those who lost their lives in the latest fighting, Nabatiyeh heads to the polls. Under the enduring shadow of the Hezbollah-Amal alliance, a faint voice of opposition is struggling to emerge.

When Emigrants Pay the Price of Exile

None of the emigrants chose to leave voluntarily. They left either in pursuit of education abroad or to find work that could provide them with economic stability and safety amid the wars in Lebanon. When the electoral law was amended to include expatriates in the actual voting process, enthusiasm soared, and in the last election, a quarter of a ...

Municipal Elections in Southern Lebanon: Clinging to Power

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 ...

Nabatiyeh Heads to the Polls: Voting in the Shadow of War

Walking through Nabatiyeh, one sees not only electoral banners and candidate posters, but also rows of portraits of those killed by Israeli strikes during the 2024 Hezbollah-Israel war. Among them are elected municipal officials, including the late municipal president Ahmed Kaheel. Yet, despite the scars of war, Nabatiyeh is gearing up for ...

Jezzine Municipal Elections: FPM and LF Face Off in Close Race

Jezzine Municipal Elections: FPM and LF Neck and Neck With municipal elections scheduled for Saturday, May 24, 2025, the southern Lebanese town of Jezzine is bracing for a vote with significant political consequences. Beneath the calm facade of this picturesque destination—famous for its 40-meter waterfall and home to Lebanon’s largest stone ...

Trump’s Regional Peace Play: A New Pax Americana?

Donald Trump’s whirlwind tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE was far more than a ceremonial diplomatic visit. Grounded in deep strategic, political and economic stakes, it marked a decisive attempt to recast the American role in a region long scarred by conflict and fractured alliances. Arriving with a regional peace blueprint in hand, ...

Baalbeck Votes: A Usual Election Draped in Yellow

On Sunday, May 18, Baalbeck heads to the polls draped in yellow and green. The dominance of the Hezbollah-Amal alliance remains strong, while civil society struggles to make an impact. Amid the city’s lingering wounds from war, hope for change persists.

Baalbeck: Tribes, Parties and Elections

Following the first two weeks of municipal elections in Mount and North Lebanon, attention now turns to Baalbeck, set to vote on May 18. The city is distinguished by its strong tribal affiliations and active political scene. Tribal Structures and Political Alliances In Baalbeck, tribal affiliations have historically played a significant role in ...

Mount Lebanon Votes: Early Tallies Hint at New Political Balance

The first phase of municipal elections concluded on Sunday evening with the closure of polling stations in Mount Lebanon at 7:00 PM. Voter turnout stood at 45.08%, slightly below the 47.4% recorded in 2016. As ballot counting got underway, early results began revealing key trends across several districts. On Monday morning, Mount Lebanon Governor ...