Lebanon Election: Last-Minute Campaigning Indicates A Tight Race

Lebanon's much anticipated parliamentary elections will be held June 7, and the closeness of the race is revealed in the lengths vying parties are going to secure votes. A telling example is Lebanese expats who are being flown home on the parties' tab, just so they can vote on Sunday, the Los Angeles Times reports:

The atmosphere at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport was unusually festive for a Thursday afternoon as hundreds of gift-laden friends and family awaited the arrival of their loved ones, many of whom are returning to vote in the hotly contested general elections Sunday.

The race between the opposition, backed by Syria and Iran, and the pro-Western March 14 coalition is so tight, in fact, that many parties are footing the bill for their constituents to fly home and vote.

Another example, is Hezbollah's renewed embrace of Lebanese families who fled to Israel in 2000, after being ousted for their involvement with the pro-Israel South Lebanon Army, Now Lebanon reports. An agreement has since been reached to welcome this community back, but at the same time, Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah just recently called for the execution of all Israeli 'spies'. Hezbollah says it is screening all those returning to ensure that they are not spies.

For more on the Lebanese elections, Council on Foreign Relations has a an overview here.

And for a report on how the West views the elections, here.

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Comments

[JohnnyLee]

What a choice the Lebanese have to make! Either elect Iran's proxy Hezbollah (who wants war with Israel) or the son of the guy who bilked the country for billions of dollars. Makes you wonder about Democracy in the Middle East.

[dragonfly888]

for more on the lebanese elections, check out this blog on Talking Points Memo: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/nkaskas/2009/06/where-apprehension-and-festivi.php

[SiberianRat]

Please, may God bestow peace and stability upon the wonderful country of Lebanon...

[ibsteve2u]

Dear Lebanon: I would be very careful, were I you. The hard-liners in both Syria and Israel think nothing of killing you and yours to satisfy their need for war.

[whoa20]

Please God, do not let Hezbollah win.

[Spencaa]

How does Hezbollah determine if returning Lebanese are spies? I mean, how are they sure they aren't dragging innocent people out of their care and beheading them?

[Doomestic]

Hizbollah did not kill a single spy since 2000. Most of the spies are delivered to the authorities and face trial.

[Spencaa]

Wouldn't make me feel any safer moving back to South Lebanon if I was Lebanese. The threat of execution is enough for me.

[davidwayneosedach]

I've been there. That is one place I wouldn't want to hang out.

[SiberianRat]

I've been there too, and loved it. I had a job there until Israel bombed my workplace.

[TXfemmom]

Man, imagine getting a free trip home just to vote. I just hope they vote for peace and tranquility in Lebanon. It is a beautiful country.