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18.05.2025

Day of Municipal Elections Unfold With Varied Turnout

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This page is an archive of main headlines from Lebanon for 18.05.2025.

It displays 114 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.

18.05.2025 โ‡ข Day of Municipal Elections Unfold With Varied Turnout
โŒจThe third phase of Lebanese municipal elections took place across Beirut, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel provinces. Early morning reports showed weak turnout, especially in Beirut, while Zahle and Baalbek consistently led in participation throughout the day. LADE monitoring organization documented security issues, pressure on voters, and violations of electoral silence.

Former President Aoun attended Pope Leon XIV's installation ceremony in Rome, where the Pope pledged to work for peace in Lebanon. The Lebanese presidency denied knowledge of Sheikh Mowafak Tarif after Israeli media circulated a controversial photo.

By midday, Interior Minister Hajjar declared the elections were proceeding smoothly, reaffirming the state's commitment to constitutional processes. Prime Minister Salam urged Beirut residents to participate amid persistently low turnout.

As polls closed, preliminary results showed the Lebanese Forces-backed "Heart of Zahle" list leading in Zahle, while "Beirut Unites Us" list gained ground in the capital.
18.05.2025
05:09
06:40
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุนูˆู† ููŠ ุฑูˆู…ุง ูˆุณู„ุงู… ููŠ ุจุบุฏุงุฏ: ุชุถุงู…ู† ุนุฑุจูŠ ูˆุฏูˆู„ูŠ ูˆุงุณุน ู…ุน ู„ุจู†ุงู†

06:40 (03:40 in your timezone)
07:10
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ุณู„ุงุญ ุงู„ูู„ุณุทูŠู†ูŠ ููŠ ู…ุฎูŠู…ุงุช ุงู„ุฌู†ูˆุจ ุญุถุฑ ููŠ ุงู„ู‚ู…ุฉ ุงู„ุนุฑุจูŠุฉ

07:10 (04:10 in your timezone)
07:38
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุณู„ุงู… ุจุนุฏ ุงู„ุงุฏู„ุงุก ุจุตูˆุชู‡: ุงู‚ุชุฑุนุช ู„ุฅู†ู…ุงุก ุงู„ู…ุฏูŠู†ุฉ ูˆูŠุฌุจ ุฃู† ู†ุชุนู„ู‘ู… ู…ู† ุงู„ุฃุฎุทุงุก ุงู„ุชูŠ ุงุฑุชูƒุจุช ููŠ ุทุฑุงุจู„ุณ ูˆุงู„ุดู…ุงู„

07:38 (04:38 in your timezone)
08:00
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ุนู…ู„ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจูŠุฉ ุงู†ุทู„ู‚ุช ููŠ ู…ุญุงูุธุงุช ุจูŠุฑูˆุช ุงู„ุจู‚ุงุน ูˆุจุนู„ุจูƒ-ุงู„ู‡ุฑู…ู„... "ุงู„ุฏุงุฎู„ูŠุฉ" ุชู„ู‚ุช ุฃูƒุซุฑ ู…ู† 43 ุดูƒูˆู‰ ููŠ ุฃู‚ู„ ู…ู† ุณุงุนุฉ

08:00 (05:00 in your timezone)

08:02 (05:02)โ‡ขMunicipal Elections Begin Amid Complaints and Competition

โŒจThe newspapers report on Lebanon's municipal elections taking place today in Beirut, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel provinces (Al Joumhouria, Kataeb, L'Orient-Le Jour). The Interior Ministry has already received over 43 complaints within the first hour of voting (Kataeb). Election coverage highlights intense competition between three lists in Beirut, with concerns about Christian representation (Addiyar), and describes Zahle as the "mother of battles" with Lebanese Forces facing a party and family alliance while the Free Patriotic Movement remains neutral (Addiyar). Meanwhile, diplomatic developments include an upcoming American visit by Ortega (Addiyar) and Iran strengthening its negotiating position through diplomatic movement (Annahar).
09:13
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ุนู…ู„ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจูŠุฉ ุงู†ุทู„ู‚ุช ููŠ ู…ุญุงูุธุงุช ุจูŠุฑูˆุช ุงู„ุจู‚ุงุน ูˆุจุนู„ุจูƒ-ุงู„ู‡ุฑู…ู„... ุงู„ุญุฌุงุฑ: ุฃุชู…ู†ู‰ ูƒูˆุฒูŠุฑ ู„ู„ุฏุงุฎู„ูŠุฉ ุฃู† ุชุฌุฑูŠ ุงู„ุนู…ู„ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจูŠุฉ ุจูƒู„ ุณู„ุงุณุฉ

09:13 (06:13 in your timezone)
10:01
10:16
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ุฑุฆูŠุณ ุนูˆู† ุชุงุจุน ู…ู† ุฑูˆู…ุง ู…ุณุงุฑ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจุงุช: ุขู…ู„ ุงู† ูŠูู‚ุจู„ ุงุจู†ุงุก ุงู„ุจู‚ุงุน ูˆุจูŠุฑูˆุช ุนู„ู‰ ุตู†ุงุฏูŠู‚ ุงู„ุงู‚ุชุฑุงุน ู„ูŠุฎุชุงุฑูˆุง ู…ู…ุซู„ูŠู‡ู… ุนู† ู‚ู†ุงุนุฉ ูˆุญุฑูŠุฉ ูˆู…ุณุคูˆู„ูŠุฉ

10:16 (07:16 in your timezone)

10:25 (07:25)โ‡ขMunicipal Elections Enter Third Phase With Rising Turnout

โŒจThe newspapers report on Lebanon's third phase of elections currently underway in Beirut and Bekaa regions. Former President Aoun is monitoring the electoral process from Rome, expressing hope that citizens will vote with conviction and responsibility (Kataeb). Voter turnout is gradually increasing, with Zahle reportedly ahead of Beirut in participation, while Baalbek is experiencing an "electoral arrest" (Lebanon24). The Ministry of Justice has issued warnings against celebratory gunfire (LBC, LBCI). The competitive electoral landscape includes intense battles between three lists in Beirut with concerns about Christian representation (Addiyar).
10:31
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ุนู…ู„ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจูŠุฉ ุงู†ุทู„ู‚ุช ููŠ ู…ุญุงูุธุงุช ุจูŠุฑูˆุช ุงู„ุจู‚ุงุน ูˆุจุนู„ุจูƒ-ุงู„ู‡ุฑู…ู„... ุงู„ุญุฌุงุฑ: ุฃุชู…ู†ู‰ ูƒูˆุฒูŠุฑ ู„ู„ุฏุงุฎู„ูŠุฉ ุฃู† ุชุฌุฑูŠ ุงู„ุนู…ู„ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจูŠุฉ ุจูƒู„ ุณู„ุงุณุฉ

10:31 (07:31 in your timezone)
11:00
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ุฌูŠุด: ู…ูˆุงุตู„ุฉ ุงู„ุชุฏุงุจูŠุฑ ุงู„ู…ุชุฎุฐุฉ ู„ุญูุธ ุฃู…ู† ุงู„ุนู…ู„ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจูŠุฉ ููŠ ู…ุญุงูุธุงุช ุจูŠุฑูˆุช ูˆุงู„ุจู‚ุงุน ูˆุจุนู„ุจูƒ ุงู„ู‡ุฑู…ู„

11:00 (08:00 in your timezone)
11:26
11:54
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ุนู…ู„ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจูŠุฉ ุงู†ุทู„ู‚ุช ููŠ ู…ุญุงูุธุงุช ุจูŠุฑูˆุช ุงู„ุจู‚ุงุน ูˆุจุนู„ุจูƒ-ุงู„ู‡ุฑู…ู„... ุงู„ุญุฌุงุฑ: ุฃุชู…ู†ู‰ ูƒูˆุฒูŠุฑ ู„ู„ุฏุงุฎู„ูŠุฉ ุฃู† ุชุฌุฑูŠ ุงู„ุนู…ู„ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจูŠุฉ ุจูƒู„ ุณู„ุงุณุฉ

11:54 (08:54 in your timezone)

11:55 (08:55)โ‡ขZahle Leads Voter Turnout in Municipal Elections

โŒจThe newspapers report on the third phase of municipal and optional elections taking place in Beirut, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel governorates, with voting turnout receiving significant coverage. Updated figures compare current participation rates with those from 2016 (Al Joumhouria), showing Zahle leading in voter turnout (LBCI, LBC, Lebanon24). Interior Minister Hajjar expressed hope that the electoral process proceeds smoothly (Kataeb). Meanwhile, international news focuses on a Hamas document allegedly revealing that the October 7 attack was meant to sabotage Israel-Saudi normalization (Janoubia). L'Orient-Le Jour provides a comprehensive guide to the municipal elections.
12:07
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ุฑุฆูŠุณ ุนูˆู† ูˆุงู„ู„ุจู†ุงู†ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุงูˆู„ู‰ ุญุถุฑุง ุงู„ู‚ุฏุงุณ ุงู„ุญุจุฑูŠ ุงู„ุงูˆู„: ู…ุดุงุฑูƒุฉ ู„ุจู†ุงู† ู„ูŠุณุช ุจุฑูˆุชูˆูƒูˆู„ูŠุฉ ุจู„ ุชุฃูƒูŠุฏูŒ ุนู„ู‰ ุงู„ุฑูˆุงุจุท ุงู„ุนู…ูŠู‚ุฉ ูˆุงู„ุนู„ุงู‚ุฉ ุงู„ุฑุงุณุฎุฉ ุงู„ุชูŠ ุชุฌู…ุน ู„ุจู†ุงู† ูˆุงู„ูƒุฑุณูŠ ุงู„ุฑุณูˆู„ูŠ

12:07 (09:07 in your timezone)
12:07
12:21
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ู†ุฏูŠู… ุงู„ุฌู…ูŠู‘ู„: ุงู„ุนุงุตู…ุฉ ุชุฑูŠุฏ ุงู„ุญูุงุธ ุนู„ู‰ ุงู„ู…ูŠุซุงู‚ูŠุฉ ูˆุนู„ู‰ ู‡ูˆูŠุฉ ุจูŠุฑูˆุช

12:21 (09:21 in your timezone)
13:05
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ุนู…ู„ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจูŠุฉ ุงู†ุทู„ู‚ุช ููŠ ู…ุญุงูุธุงุช ุจูŠุฑูˆุช ุงู„ุจู‚ุงุน ูˆุจุนู„ุจูƒ-ุงู„ู‡ุฑู…ู„... ุงู„ุญุฌุงุฑ: ุฃุชู…ู†ู‰ ูƒูˆุฒูŠุฑ ู„ู„ุฏุงุฎู„ูŠุฉ ุฃู† ุชุฌุฑูŠ ุงู„ุนู…ู„ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจูŠุฉ ุจูƒู„ ุณู„ุงุณุฉ

13:05 (10:05 in your timezone)
13:26

13:36 (10:36)โ‡ขMunicipal Elections Spark Intense Battles Across Lebanon

โŒจThe newspapers report on the third phase of municipal elections taking place today in Beirut, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel governorates (Janoubia, Kataeb, L'Orient-Le Jour). The Interior Ministry is publishing updated voter turnout figures (Al Joumhouria) as fierce battles unfold between government and opposition forces in key districts (Janoubia). Interior Minister Hajjar expressed hope for a smooth electoral process (Kataeb). An incident in Saadnayel prompted election monitors from LADE to withdraw from a polling station (LBC, LBCI). Meanwhile, media covers the Pope Leon XIV's installation ceremony, where he pledged to make the church a symbol of peace (Lebanon24), and reports on an Israeli strike in South Lebanon that injured two people, including a soldier (Naharnet).
14:16
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ู…ุงุฑูˆู†ูŠ ู„ู„ู†ุงุฎุจูŠู†: ุงู‚ุชุฑุนูˆุง ู…ู† ุฃุฌู„ ุฒุญู„ุฉ

14:16 (11:16 in your timezone)
14:23
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ุนู…ู„ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจูŠุฉ ุงู†ุทู„ู‚ุช ููŠ ู…ุญุงูุธุงุช ุจูŠุฑูˆุช ุงู„ุจู‚ุงุน ูˆุจุนู„ุจูƒ-ุงู„ู‡ุฑู…ู„... ุงู„ุญุฌุงุฑ: ุฃุชู…ู†ู‰ ูƒูˆุฒูŠุฑ ู„ู„ุฏุงุฎู„ูŠุฉ ุฃู† ุชุฌุฑูŠ ุงู„ุนู…ู„ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจูŠุฉ ุจูƒู„ ุณู„ุงุณุฉ

14:23 (11:23 in your timezone)
15:44
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุดูƒุงูˆู‰ ูˆุฅุดูƒุงู„ุงุช...ุจูŠุฑูˆุช ุชู†ุชุฎุจ ุจุฎุฌู„ ูˆุฒุญู„ุฉ ูˆุจุนู„ุจูƒ ููŠ ุงู„ุตุฏุงุฑุฉ

15:44 (12:44 in your timezone)
16:06
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุจุงู„ุตูˆุฑ- ุงู„ุฑุฆูŠุณ ุนูˆู† ู„ู„ุจุงุจุง ู„ุงูˆูˆู†: ู†ู†ุชุธุฑ ุฒูŠุงุฑุชูƒู… ุฅู„ู‰ ู„ุจู†ุงู†...ุงู„ุญุจุฑ ุงู„ุฃุนุธู… ูŠุฑุฏู‘: ุณุฃุนู…ู„ ู„ู„ุณู„ุงู… ููŠ ู„ุจู†ุงู† ูˆุงู„ู…ู†ุทู‚ุฉ

16:06 (13:06 in your timezone)

16:15 (13:15)โ‡ขLow Turnout Plagues Beirut Municipal Elections

โŒจThe newspapers report on ongoing municipal elections with Prime Minister Salam appealing to Beirut residents amid low voter turnout, describing it as a unique opportunity (Al Joumhouria). Election monitoring organization LADE reported security problems, pressures, and violations of electoral silence (LBC, LBCI). Meanwhile, former President Aoun met with Pope Leon XIV at the Vatican, inviting him to visit Lebanon. The Pope responded that he would work for peace in Lebanon and the region (Kataeb). Coverage continues of the Pope's installation ceremony, where he pledged to make the Church a symbol of peace (Lebanon24).
16:21
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุดูƒุงูˆู‰ ูˆุฅุดูƒุงู„ุงุช...ุจูŠุฑูˆุช ุชู†ุชุฎุจ ุจุฎุฌู„ ูˆุฒุญู„ุฉ ูˆุจุนู„ุจูƒ ููŠ ุงู„ุตุฏุงุฑุฉ

16:21 (13:21 in your timezone)
16:50
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ู†ุตุงุฑ: ู…ู† ูˆุงุฌุจู†ุง ูƒุญูƒูˆู…ุฉ ุฅู†ุฌุงุญ ุงู„ุฅู†ุชุฎุงุจุงุช ูˆู†ุดุฏู‘ ุนู„ู‰ ูŠุฏ ูˆุฒูŠุฑ ุงู„ุฏุงุฎู„ูŠุฉ ู„ุฃู†ู‡ ุชุญู…ู„ ุงู„ุนุจุก ุงู„ุฃูƒุจุฑ ู„ุชู†ููŠุฐ ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจุงุช

16:50 (13:50 in your timezone)
16:57
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ู†ุตุงุฑ: ู…ู† ูˆุงุฌุจู†ุง ูƒุญูƒูˆู…ุฉ ุฅู†ุฌุงุญ ุงู„ุฅู†ุชุฎุงุจุงุช ูˆู†ุดุฏู‘ ุนู„ู‰ ูŠุฏ ูˆุฒูŠุฑ ุงู„ุฏุงุฎู„ูŠุฉ ู„ุฃู†ู‡ ุชุญู…ู„ ุงู„ุนุจุก ุงู„ุฃูƒุจุฑ ู„ุชู†ููŠุฐู‡ุง

16:57 (13:57 in your timezone)
17:04
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ู†ุตุงุฑ: ู…ู† ูˆุงุฌุจู†ุง ูƒุญูƒูˆู…ุฉ ุฅู†ุฌุงุญ ุงู„ุฅู†ุชุฎุงุจุงุช ูˆู„ุง ุชู‡ุงูˆู† ู…ุน ู…ุทู„ู‚ูŠ ุงู„ู†ุงุฑ ู„ุฃู† ุญูŠุงุฉ ุงู„ู†ุงุณ ุฎุท ุฃุญู…ุฑ

17:04 (14:04 in your timezone)
17:34
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ู…ุงุฑูˆู†ูŠ: ู„ุง ุฃุญุฏ ูŠุฒุงูŠุฏ ุนู„ู‰ ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ ุจุณูŠุงุฏุชู‡ุง ูˆุชุถุญูŠุงุชู‡ุง ููŠ ุณุจูŠู„ ู„ุจู†ุงู†

17:34 (14:34 in your timezone)
17:42
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุดูƒุงูˆู‰ ูˆุฅุดูƒุงู„ุงุช...ุจูŠุฑูˆุช ุชู†ุชุฎุจ ุจุฎุฌู„ ูˆุฒุญู„ุฉ ูˆุจุนู„ุจูƒ ููŠ ุงู„ุตุฏุงุฑุฉ

17:42 (14:42 in your timezone)
17:50
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ู†ุฏูŠู… ุงู„ุฌู…ูŠู‘ู„: ุงู„ุตูˆุช ุงู„ู…ุณูŠุญูŠ ุณูŠูƒูˆู† ุจูŠุถุฉ ุงู„ู‚ุจุงู† ููŠ ุงู„ุงุฎุชูŠุงุฑุงุช ุงู„ุฃุณุงุณูŠุฉ

17:50 (14:50 in your timezone)
17:57
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุณูŠุฑุฌ ุฏุงุบุฑ: ู„ุจูŠุฑูˆุช ุฏูŠู† ุนู„ูŠู†ุง ุจุงู„ุฅู†ูƒุจุงุจ ุนู„ู‰ ุฏุฑุงุณุฉ ูˆุถุนู‡ุง ูˆุตู„ุงุญูŠุงุช ุงู„ู…ุญุงูุธ ูˆุงู„ู…ุฌู„ุณ ุงู„ุจู„ุฏูŠ ูˆุงู„ู…ู†ุงุตูุฉ ู…ุณุคูˆู„ูŠุฉ ุงู„ุฌู…ูŠุน

17:57 (14:57 in your timezone)
18:41
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุดูƒุงูˆู‰ ูˆุฅุดูƒุงู„ุงุช...ุจูŠุฑูˆุช ุชู†ุชุฎุจ ุจุฎุฌู„ ูˆุฒุญู„ุฉ ูˆุจุนู„ุจูƒ ููŠ ุงู„ุตุฏุงุฑุฉ

18:41 (15:41 in your timezone)

19:22 (16:22)โ‡ขMunicipal Election Polls Close With Baalbek Leading Turnout

โŒจThe newspapers report on the closing stages of today's municipal elections with detailed voting turnout figures across regions. As ballot boxes close, media focuses on participation rates in Beirut, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel (Al Joumhouria, LBCI, LBC, Lebanon24). Reports highlight modest turnout in Beirut while Zahle and Baalbek lead in participation (Kataeb). Election day has been marked by complaints and incidents at polling stations (Kataeb). Interior Minister Hajjar announced that all measures have been taken to accelerate vote counting and publish results quickly (L'Orient-Le Jour).
19:38
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจุงุช ุจู†ุณุฎุชู‡ุง ุงู„ุซุงู„ุซุฉ...ูˆุงู„ูƒู„ู…ุฉ ู„ู„ุตู†ุงุฏูŠู‚

19:38 (16:38 in your timezone)
20:49
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ู†ุชุงุฆุฌ ุงู„ุฃูˆู„ูŠุฉ ู„ู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจุงุช ุงู„ุจู„ุฏูŠุฉ ูˆุงู„ุงุฎุชูŠุงุฑูŠุฉ ุจู†ุณุฎุชู‡ุง ุงู„ุซุงู„ุซุฉ

20:49 (17:49 in your timezone)
21:03
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ู„ุงุฆุญุฉ "ุจูŠุฑูˆุช ุจุชุฌู…ุนู†ุง" ุชุชู‚ุฏู‘ู….. ูƒูŠู ุชูˆุฒู‘ุนุช ุงู„ุฃุตูˆุงุชุŸ

21:03 (18:03 in your timezone)
21:09
21:09
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ู†ุชุงุฆุฌ ุงู„ุฃูˆู„ูŠุฉ ู„ู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจุงุช ุงู„ุจู„ุฏูŠุฉ ูˆุงู„ุงุฎุชูŠุงุฑูŠุฉ ุจู†ุณุฎุชู‡ุง ุงู„ุซุงู„ุซุฉ

21:09 (18:09 in your timezone)
22:03
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ุฑุฆูŠุณ ุนูˆู†: ู„ุง ุฎูŠุงุฑ ุฃู…ุงู… ุญุฒุจ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุฅู„ุง ุงู„ู‚ุจูˆู„ ุจู…ูู‡ูˆู… ุงู„ุฏูˆู„ุฉ..ูˆู†ูˆุงูŠุง ูˆุงุดู†ุทู† ุฅูŠุฌุงุจูŠุฉ ูˆู†ุชูˆู‚ุน ุฒูŠุงุฑุฉ ุฃูˆุฑุชุงุบูˆุณ ู‚ุฑูŠุจุงู‹

22:03 (19:03 in your timezone)
22:11
ุงู„ูƒุชุงุฆุจ

ุงู„ู†ุชุงุฆุฌ ุงู„ุฃูˆู„ูŠุฉ ู„ู„ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจุงุช ุงู„ุจู„ุฏูŠุฉ ูˆุงู„ุงุฎุชูŠุงุฑูŠุฉ ุจู†ุณุฎุชู‡ุง ุงู„ุซุงู„ุซุฉ

22:11 (19:11 in your timezone)

23:15 (20:15)โ‡ขLebanese Forces-Backed List Leads Zahle Vote Count

โŒจThe newspapers report on preliminary results of the third phase of municipal and optional elections in Beirut, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel (Kataeb, LBC, LBCI, Lebanon24). The "Heart of Zahle" list, supported by the Lebanese Forces, is reportedly leading after the counting of 41 ballot boxes (LBC, LBCI). Despite years of crisis, voters in Beirut have shown indifference toward municipal elections (L'Orient-Le Jour). Meanwhile, President Aoun stated that while Hezbollah has the right to political participation, weapons should remain exclusively in state hands (Al Joumhouria).