Lebanon Vote a Setback for Anti-Syria Opposition
A Christian general who returned from exile five weeks ago made a surprisingly strong showing in the third round of Lebanon’s parliamentary elections that set back the main anti-Syrian opposition’s quest for a majority, results released Monday showed.
Former military commander Gen. Michel Aoun was exiled 14 years ago for fighting the Syrian army but then formed an alliance with pro-Syrian elements for the current elections. He and his allies won 21 of the 58 seats contested in the central and eastern regions, Interior Minister Hassan Sabei said.
The main anti-Syrian opposition alliance, led by Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, had 19 seats going into the third round and needed 46 more for a majority in the 128-seat parliament. But Jumblatt’s list won only 27 seats Sunday, giving them a total of 46, far short of a majority.
The anti-Syrian bloc still can clinch a majority in the final round of voting next Sunday in the north, where the remaining 28 seats will be decided.
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