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Aoun Sweeps Lebanon’s Christian Heartland
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“I
believe it is a victory because all political forces sided
together against us,” said Aoun. (Reuters)
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BEIRUT
, June 13, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Firebrand
former general Michel Aoun scored a stunning win Monday, June
13, in
Lebanon
's third round of parliamentary elections to emerge as the main
Christian political force in the country, only weeks after returning
from his exile in
France
.
Interior
Minister Hassan Sabeh said that Aoun’s ticket took 15 seats out of
16 up for grabs in Sunday's polls in the Maronite Christian heartland
of North Metn and Byblos-Kesrwan north of
Beirut
, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“I
believe it is a victory because all political forces sided together
against us,” said Aoun, vowing to fight corruption which he blames
for
Lebanon
's economic problems.
Among
those who lost to Aoun was Nassib Lahoud, long touted as the
opposition's preferred presidential candidate.
Hezbollah
Win
Meanwhile,
the Shiite coalition of Hezbollah and Amal movement increased their
share in parliament with 10 candidates winning seats in the eastern
Baalbek-Hermel district, Reuters said.
The
Shiite alliance now has 35 seats in the assembly.
Saad
Al-Hariri suffered a setback in Zahle, a mainly Christian constituency
in the eastern
Bekaa
Valley
, where he has no traditional base.
But
candidates backed by Hariri’s son won all six seats in a mainly
Sunni Bekaa constituency.
More
than half of the 1.25 million eligible voters cast ballots in the
Mount Lebanon and eastern
Bekaa
Valley
regions in the penultimate stage of the parliamentary elections.
The
Interior Ministry said turnout was 54 percent in
Mount Lebanon
and 52 percent in the Bekaa. Some voters live abroad but traveled to
Lebanon
to vote.
A
total of 58 seats were up for grabs Sunday. Forty-two lawmakers were
elected in the first two rounds in
Beirut
and the south, both of which brought no surprises.
The
son of assassinated former prime minister Rafiq Al-Hariri won by a
landslide in
Beirut
.
The
Hezbollah-Amal triumph in the south was described by politicians and
newspapers as a carte blanche for Hezbollah to retain its resistance
arms against
Israel
.
Jumblatt
Win
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Jumblatt
said Aoun's victory was a defeat for moderation. (Reuters)
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But
the candidates of Aoun, who fell out with other anti-Syrian leaders
after returning in May from 14 years in exile, looked set to be beaten
by a list backed by Druze chieftain Walid Jumblatt in the Baabda-Aley
district, where 11 seats are being contested.
Official
results were due later Monday.
Jumblatt's
list won all eight seats by default in the mainly Druze Shouf
constituency.
Commenting
on Aoun's win, Jumblatt said it was a defeat for moderation and
accused Aoun of being used by
Syria
and its Lebanese allies to divide and weaken the Christians.
“We
are back to 1976 when the Syrians entered
Lebanon
with the pretext of protecting the Christians, but their first and
last intention was to control
Lebanon
,” Reuters quoted him as telling LBC television.
“The
Christian extremists have vanquished the moderates,” Jumblatt said
Sunday after unofficial results gave the former general a big win.
Mixing
Political Cards
But
Aoun's victory could complicate the new political landscape in already
highly factionalized
Lebanon
.
Local
media underscored the significance of Aoun's victory for the role of
Christians in
Lebanon
's multi-confessional political make-up.
“Aoun
brings Christians into the political game, all four confessions are
now represented,” wrote the left-wing daily As-Safir, in
reference to
Lebanon
's Druze, Shiite, Sunni and Christian communities.
“In
light of the results so far announced, one can say that... Christians
have at long last a leader,” it said.
But
An-Nahar newspaper warned: “Now
Lebanon
has two choices: reconciliation or extremism.”
Aoun,
70, who ruffled feathers as soon as he returned to
Lebanon
from
France
last month, has insisted he was running on a non-sectarian,
anti-corruption and national platform.
“Michel
Aoun is not seeking to become the leader of the Christians but to have
a national standing,” his spokesman Elias Zoghbi told AFP.
Aoun's
defeat at a Syrian-led attack on his powerbase in and around
Beirut
Oct. 13, 1990, marked the end of the Lebanese civil war.
He
sought refuge at the French embassy before leaving for exile several
months later.
But
despite his defeat and absence, the popularity of the 70-year-old
former general did not fade.
Detractors
say his military gambles led to the defeat of the Maronites in the
civil war.
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