About 3.9 million Lebanese voters are called to the polls on Sunday to renew 128 members of parliament, voting is under high pressure in a country that is in economic collapse and plagued by internal divisions and geopolitical tensions.

This decisive election will be the first since the popular uprising of 2019, the unprecedented economic and financial crisis that the country is suffering from, and the twin explosions in the port of Beirut that devastated part of the capital, all blamed on the ruling caste.

They undoubtedly represent “the first test for the opposition groups that emerged after the popular uprising […] demand the departure of a political class accused of corruption and incompetence”highlights local francophone daily newspaper East Day.

“May 15: Toward a Ballot Box Revolution?”, also ran an Arabic-language daily newspaper Annaharalluding to calls to translate the slogans of the October mutiny into a vote for change, even if the calculations are calculated at best for a victory of 10-15 deputies at most.

Others see elections as a test for “axis of resistance” represented by Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian armed Shiite party, and its allies, including the party of the President of the Republic, Mishe Aoun, who won the 2018 legislative elections, causing “CONSPIRACY” western, even “July War” selective [en allusion à la guerre de juillet 2006 menée par Israël contre le Hezbollah]according to the leader of the proteheran party himself, quoted by the pro-Hizballah newspaper Al-Akhbar.

75% of Lebanese below the poverty line

The vote also and above all takes place in the context of an economic collapse marked by debt defaults. [sans issue depuis mars 2020]free fall of the national currency, which lost more than 95% of its value against the dollar in two and a half years, causing hyperinflation, energy supply for one to two hours a day, as well as draconian measures introduced since November 2019 and without any legal basis by banks, preventing depositors from accessing their deposits.

More than 75% of Lebanese now live below the poverty line, compared with 25% before the crisis, according to the UN.

This, moreover, “Without electricity and no elevator to get to the upper floors, voters voted at a school in Beirut” indicate this morning East Day.

Others were unable to reach the place of registration. [le vote au Liban se déroule dans la circonscription d’origine, quel que soit le lieu de résidence] due to the high cost of petrol, the price of 20 liters jumped from £30,000 to over £500,000 in two years. [de 19 à 317 euros].

France, which has invested in the Lebanese crisis, including visits by President Emmanuel Macron twice in less than a month since the explosion in the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, and a reform-driven economic recovery plan, has named its ambassador in Beirut as its voice “mobilization”.

“They are responsible”

“Traditional parties have been around since the Lebanese war. [entre 1975 et 1990]. They are responsible for the current economic situation.” explains the voter quoted East Day. Indeed, several tenors of Lebanese politics were warlords during the civil conflict. “We want new figures in parliament and more diversity. This requires the presence of women and youth in parliament,” adds his wife, also disillusioned with the political class in power.

For her part, Joel, 22, is voting for the first time. “It is first and foremost a duty. I would no longer have the right to complain about the situation if I did not vote,” appreciated this young woman who decided to cast her vote on the challenge list, the publication says.

Others have chosen to vote for communal parties, perceived as the only guarantors of the interests of the religious community to which they belong in this country, which consists of 18 religious communities, Muslims and Christians.

Pending final results on Monday, turnout was 14.6% at 11 am Paris time.