Lebanon vote weakens Hezbollah bloc as reformists book gains

An election in crisis-hit Lebanon appears to have dealt a setback to the biggest bloc, led by the Iran-backed Shiite Muslim Hezbollah party, and boosted reformists, provisional results showed Monday.

Counting was ongoing and official results were only available for 99 of the 128 seats up for grabs a little before midnight (2100 GMT), fuelling opposition fears of foul play in some of the closest races.

Turnout was low in the general election Sunday, the first since the Mediterranean country was plunged into a deep economic crisis that has stoked popular fury with the hereditary and graft-tainted ruling class.

Some polling centres lacked electricity, forcing voters to use their phone lights to cast their ballots, in a reflection of Lebanon’s most painful crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Final results, now expected on Tuesday, will show whether Hezbollah, a political and military movement seen as a state within a state, and its allies can keep an actionable majority in Lebanon’s parliament.

Hezbollah, considered a “terrorist” organisation by many Western countries, has so far retained all its seats, but its Christian allies, President Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), suffered losses.

The Lebanese Forces (LF) of former warlord Samir Geagea, which has strong ties with Saudi Arabia, won several new seats and should emerge as the largest Christian party.

Hezbollah MP Mohammed Raad warned opponents Monday against becoming “shields for the Israelis”, raising fears of unrest as the group’s rivals appeared to make gains.

“We accept you as opponents in parliament, but we will not accept you as shields for the Israelis,” Raad said in televised remarks.

– ‘Frustration’ –

New opposition candidates also made advances, pushing forward the agenda of a cross-sectarian protest movement that erupted in late 2019 against the ruling elite.

Whatever the final election outcome, observers expect months of haggling over the next government line-up and the election of the speaker,…