Hizbullah Announces Withdrawal from Municipal Elections in Beirut
Hizbullah Media Relations
Local Editor
With respect to the importance of the capital, Beirut, and what it represents, on the national level, and on the level of its demographic makeup, and in harmony with the climate of political reconciliation after the formation of the National Unity Government, we, in Hizbullah, were keen on forming a single consensus list that reflects all the popular and political constituents of the capitol, and we spared no effort in that sense, nor did we put forth any impossible demands, as was circulated, to justify the retraction from forming a single list. However, the essential disregard of the presence of a large segment representing the Sunni opposition and the disregard for the true magnitude of the representation of the Free Patriotic Movement lead to dismantling the consensus on the level of the capitol.
On the other hand, when the possibility loomed of the occurrence of a true electoral battle in municipal elections in Beirut in which Hizbullah would run in a list against The Future Movement's list, there quickly arose a sectarian note and the beginning of levying public opinion in many statements, positions, declarations, and in the media, ripping the municipal elections in Beirut of its municipal, democratic mark, and hastily transforming it into a rink for sectarian wrestling.
We in Hizbullah, and in regards to what circumstances and developments have evolved into on the level of Beirut's municipal elections, and based on all the facts which warrant that many sides have begun to exploit the municipal elections in the benefit of dark sectarian instigation, and due to the fact that many of our political allies have abstained from participating in the municipal elections, we've decided the following:
First: Boycotting Beirut's municipal elections, both in candidacy and in voting, and withdrawing the candidacy of brother Hajj Hani Qassem from the membership of the municipal council.
Second: Actively participating in the elections of chiefs and elective councils on the level of the city of Beirut.
We hope that the residents of Beirut, in their political and social constituencies, the best in electing those who materialize their interests and hopes on all levels.
Local Editor
With respect to the importance of the capital, Beirut, and what it represents, on the national level, and on the level of its demographic makeup, and in harmony with the climate of political reconciliation after the formation of the National Unity Government, we, in Hizbullah, were keen on forming a single consensus list that reflects all the popular and political constituents of the capitol, and we spared no effort in that sense, nor did we put forth any impossible demands, as was circulated, to justify the retraction from forming a single list. However, the essential disregard of the presence of a large segment representing the Sunni opposition and the disregard for the true magnitude of the representation of the Free Patriotic Movement lead to dismantling the consensus on the level of the capitol.
On the other hand, when the possibility loomed of the occurrence of a true electoral battle in municipal elections in Beirut in which Hizbullah would run in a list against The Future Movement's list, there quickly arose a sectarian note and the beginning of levying public opinion in many statements, positions, declarations, and in the media, ripping the municipal elections in Beirut of its municipal, democratic mark, and hastily transforming it into a rink for sectarian wrestling.
We in Hizbullah, and in regards to what circumstances and developments have evolved into on the level of Beirut's municipal elections, and based on all the facts which warrant that many sides have begun to exploit the municipal elections in the benefit of dark sectarian instigation, and due to the fact that many of our political allies have abstained from participating in the municipal elections, we've decided the following:
First: Boycotting Beirut's municipal elections, both in candidacy and in voting, and withdrawing the candidacy of brother Hajj Hani Qassem from the membership of the municipal council.
Second: Actively participating in the elections of chiefs and elective councils on the level of the city of Beirut.
We hope that the residents of Beirut, in their political and social constituencies, the best in electing those who materialize their interests and hopes on all levels.
