The events of the electoral process held in Lebanon on Sunday contradicted Lebanese expectations for a radical change that would overturn the influence of political forces amid the worst economic, financial, and living crisis the country is experiencing. The change-oriented voices have greatly diminished outside the political alignments in most electoral districts, while political tensions intensified between the "Lebanese Forces" and "Hezbollah," not lacking in violence, tension, and numerous violations.
The lengthy election day in Lebanon saw hundreds of violations committed by candidates and officials alike, including President Michel Aoun, according to the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE). This occurred through media statements made by these individuals, which was considered a breach of the electoral silence that was supposed to last until the polls closed at 7 PM. The violations prompted appeals from the Electoral Supervisory Authority as well as from the LADE, which reported a "breach of electoral silence by candidates and politicians, including President Michel Aoun."
In a statement, the association noted that as a result of its direct monitoring of the electoral process, it observed hundreds of violations stemming from breaches of electoral silence by various media, candidates, and political entities. It is currently studying the reports related to these violations and taking immediate action regarding them, including referring them to the competent judicial authorities. They also emphasized their commitment to monitoring the electoral process until the polls closed, urging all media, candidates, and political entities to adhere immediately to the electoral silence as stipulated in electoral law.
In response to a question regarding President Aoun's violation of electoral silence, his advisor, former Justice Minister Selim Jreisati, stated: "Ignorance is a mitigating excuse, and those who say that President Michel Aoun violated the electoral silence might have overlooked the electoral law, specifically the provisions regarding media and electoral advertising." Jreisati considered that LADE erred in its assessment of President Aoun's breach of electoral silence, adding that "the head of state can at any moment address the Lebanese as a directive to encourage them to vote in order to ensure proper representation and effectiveness, as mentioned in the Taif Agreement, and to continue the path of reform."
Concerning other violations, LADE highlighted breaches of ballot secrecy as representatives accompanied voters behind the screens in many polling stations. They also warned against photographing the official ballot, recalling the Interior Ministry's directive to annul the vote of anyone who photographs, similar to what President Aoun's daughter, Claudine Aoun, did before deleting the image. They also noted via Twitter that attacks on their monitors occurred repeatedly in some areas and reiterated their request to the Interior Ministry for protection and facilitation of their work.
Tensions between supporters of "Hezbollah" and "the Lebanese Forces" characterized the lengthy election day, where a young man was arrested after verbally abusing President Aoun at a polling center in Haret Hreik in Mount Lebanon. Lebanese media showcased footage of the young man, reportedly named Charbel Tohumi, being beaten before his arrest, after he directed offensive remarks at the President while casting his vote. Activists on social media circulated a video of his detention by presidential security personnel. This incident was one of many instances of violence surrounding the electoral process, particularly marked by repeated confrontations in several districts between supporters of the Lebanese Forces and Hezbollah.
Three incidents occurred in Zahle (eastern Lebanon) concentrated in front of the heart of Jesus School in Burbara, the Government Hospital in Al-Ma'allaqa, and the Hawraa Government Hospital, as reported by the National News Agency. In the south, supporters of the "Lebanese Forces" reported an assault on their representatives in Kfarhotin in Jezzine, leading to the destruction of their tents and several injuries among "Forces" supporters. In Jbeil, the "Lebanese Forces" mentioned that their representatives were prevented from entering polling stations in the Shia village of Mazraat Al-Sayyad, and candidate Mahmoud Owaad, running for the Shia seat in Jbeil on the Lebanese Forces list, was assaulted, and his car was damaged while he was heading to cast his vote.
In the Baalbek-Hermel district, incidents were both symbolic and violent, where some representatives of the "Building the State" list, backed by the Forces and led by Abbas Jouhary, were expelled. Some representatives in the town of Younin defected in favor of the list supported by Hezbollah. Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea addressed Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi, the Lebanese Army leadership, and the general directorate of internal security forces, saying: "Attacks continue against the representatives of the (Building the State) list in most polling stations in Hermel, without any action taken by the internal security forces present in those stations."
Geagea further added in a statement: "At the same time, when the Lebanese Army restores some of the representatives to the polling stations from which they were forcibly removed, the heads of those stations refuse to acknowledge their complaints or take them seriously or allow them to carry out their legally assigned work. The events occurring in most polling stations in Hermel and some in Baalbek undermine the essence of the electoral process, and it is the responsibility of the Prime Minister and Interior Minister to intervene immediately, firstly to stop attacks on the representatives and return them to the polling stations, especially ensuring their presence at the start of the counting, and secondly, asking the heads of the relevant polling stations in Brital, Badnayel, Al-Khniseh, and Reha, among others, to take responsibility and allow the representatives to do what is required of them."
Jouhary remarked: "We acknowledge that some weak-minded individuals from the electoral apparatus of the (Building the State) list have been swayed by crumbs stolen from the corrupt duo's theft of our oppressed people's sustenance, which continues to engage in deception and misrepresentation under rotten ideological slogans. Despite all this intimidation, we remain committed to following through on the electoral process, and neither treachery nor betrayal will deter us from our national and ethical responsibilities."
In the southern suburbs of Beirut, the election monitoring organization LADE reported that "party supporters assaulted candidate Wasef Al-Haj in the polling center in Burj Al-Barajneh - Al-Mancheh amidst slogans of (Zionist, Zionist)." In the village of Fneidik in Akkar in the north, "incidents of conflict and confrontation escalated into violence," necessitating the swift intervention of the Lebanese Army and internal security forces to control the situation and prevent further escalation, resulting in one person being injured and transported by the Red Cross to a local hospital, as reported by the National Agency.
