Some more data and news regarding Lebanon’s elections.
While the election was portrayed as a battle between good and evil, the reality, particularly in the Christian districts that made the difference tells another story, as the following examples of the competing candidates show.
One of the districts of Beirut included 5 Christian candidates and would have been enough to tip the scale. It included one Orthodox, one Maronite, one Catholic, One Armenian Orthodox and One Armenian Catholic. Those from each sect compete for that one seat, even though everyone votes for all candidates.
The Maronite winner is Nadime Gemayel 26, the son of Bashir Gemayel, who helped found the Christian resistance movement against the Palestinian, Syrian and Arab war on Lebanon in the 70’s. Bashir was killed before he took office as president in 1982. Running against him, and branded as the ultimate Islamic evil, was Masoud Ashkar, Bashir Gemayel’s right hand man in the fight against the Palestinians, and Syrians, wounded multiple times and credited as one of the fiercest fighters in defense of Lebanon. He is now a lawyer and has spent the last 20 years – since the end of the war – fighting politically against Syrian and Islamic dominance of Lebanon.
The Orthodox winner is Nayla Tuini, the daughter of Gibran Tuini, who was killed in 2005 by a car bomb. He was also one of the founders of the resistance along with Bashir Gemayel and Masuoud Ahkar, and was a very close friend of General Aoun the head of the FPM. Even though he ran for elections against the FPM, he held weekly meetings with the FPM and worked tirelessly to bring Christian unity. I believe that is the reason he died. Running against her was a retired General Abou Jamra who was one of the officers who trained Gebran, Masoud and Bashir and helped form a force capable of resisting the Jihad at that time and personally lead many of fiercest battles. The general was second in command to Aoun in the last stand against the Syrians in ’89-’91 and forcefully banished from Lebanon by the Syrians, returning only after they left in 2005.
The Catholic winner is a business man who cooperated with and profited from the Syrians throughout their rule in Lebanon. Running against him was a man who spent the years between 1991 and 2005 fighting the Syrians, The winner served in Governments that ordered the looser and his friends beaten and arrested more times than I can remember for insisting on Lebanon’s independence.
What battle between good and evil? What Moslem Fundamentalists? Not in this district and not between these candidates.
According to the interior ministry, 54.5% of the total vote went to opposition candidates. The preliminary breakdown – final breakdown by polling station and sect will not be posted until next Tuesday – indicate a sizeable majority of the Christian vote went to the opposition.
Of course those who won received more votes than their direct competition. But, the percentage differences in various districts and for various candidates effect the totals. Also, voters in all districts are religiously mixed, and every votes for all candidates. Candidates can win without getting the majority of their own sect or religion.
Another bit of news. One of the mafia bosses – sorry politicians – in another district – was recorded threatening a priest with jail and beating if he did not bring all his people to the polls to vote for him. He also clearly told him that he has paid off the $200,000 loan the church had with one bank. The candidate was a Christian himself and a member of March 14. The priest has presented his case to the constitutional court and came out publicly on TV, but I will not hold my breath. The candidate is the father of the current Defense Minister and threatened the priest with his son’s men. The Defense Minister is Washington’s favorite, whom a year ago Washington clearly stated that if he is not the Defense Minister they will refuse to sell Lebanon any weapons and will cut off all aide.
No system is perfect. And, as I said the results may be a blessing in disguise. But, if there was any evil in this race, it would be the ones threatening to arrest and beat up priests if they do not produce the votes, especially ones who call themselves Christian. Don’t you agree?
Cadmus
