Beirut II
Beirut II | |
---|---|
Constituency for the Parliament of Lebanon | |
Governorate | Beirut |
Electorate | 353,164 (2018)[1][2] |
Current constituency | |
Created | 2017 |
Number of members | 11 (6 Sunni, 2 Shia, 1 Druze, 1 Greek Orthodox, 1 Evangelical) |
Beirut II (Arabic: دائرة بيروت الثانية) is an electoral district in Beirut, Lebanon, as per the 2017 vote law. The district elects 11 members of the Lebanese National Assembly - 6 Sunnis, 2 Shias, 1 Druze, 1 Greek Orthodox, 1 Evangelical.
The Beirut II electoral district covers 8 quartiers (neighbourhoods) of the Lebanese capital: Port, Bachoura, Dar El Mreisse, Mazraa, Minet El Hosn, Moussaitbeh, Ras Beirut and Zuqaq al-Blat.[citation needed] The electorate is predominantly Sunni (62.1%).[3] 20.6% of the electorate is Shia, 5% Greek Orthodox, 3.41% Minorities, 1.86% Maronite, 1.65% Armenian Orthodox, 1.63% Greek Catholic, 1.55% Druze, 1.31% Jews[a], 0.81% Evangelical (Protestant) and 0.03% Alawite.[3]
2018 election
[edit]Ahead of the 2018 Lebanese general election, nine candidate lists were registered in Beirut II. This was highest number of lists registered in any constituency in this election.[5]
In the 2009 election, the Future Movement had won the election in West Beirut. But this time, a number of lists seeks to challenge the Future dominance over the Sunni electorate, "Beirut al-Watan" (alliance of al-Jamaa al-Islamiah and Al Liwaa newspaper editor Salah Salam), "Beiruti Opposition" (fielded by Ashraf Rifi), "Lebnan Herzen", "We are All Beirut" and "Dignity of Beirut" (led by former judge Khaled Hammoud).[6][7]
The erstwhile March 8 bloc split into two lists. Hezbollah, Amal, Al-Ahbash and the Free Patriotic Movement fielded the "Unity of Beirut" list, whilst the People's Movement and Al-Mourabitoun fielded the "Voice of the People" list.[6] Omar Ghandour, candidate of the Islamic Action Front, prominent businessman and former president of the Nejmeh Sporting Club, was named president of "Unity of Beirut" list.[8][9] The SSNP faction of Ali Haidar fielded a candidate on the "Voice of the People" list.[citation needed] Naamat Badruddin, also on the "Voice of the People" list was a leader during the 2015 trash protest movement.[10]
Under the previous electoral law the Future Movement could easily win landslides in West Beirut. But under the new electoral law analysts argued that the Future Movement could lose a number of seats. Apart from the Hezbollah-Amal-FPM list (expected to win the Shia vote), the main perceived challengers to the Future Movement were the "Beirut al-Watan" list and the "Lebnan Herzen" list of prominent businessman Fouad Makhzoumi.[8] Nevertheless, the Beirut al-Watan list included several figures close to the Hariri family and Salam pledged to support the "Sunni za'im" Hariri to remain Prime Minister of Lebanon.[8]
Prior to the deadline to register lists, the Lebanese Democratic Party announced the withdrawal of its candidate for the Druze seat.[11] Likewise the Lebanese People's Congress, which had initially intended to field Samir Kneo on the Amal-Hezbollah list, withdrew from the race.[12][13]
Result by lists
[edit]List | Votes | % | Seats | Members elected | Parties |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
"Future for Beirut" | 62,970 | 43.78 | 6 | Hariri, Salam, Jaroudi, Machnouk, Najem, Al Sayegh | Future-PSP |
"Unity of Beirut" | 47,087 | 32.74 | 4 | Sherri, Trabelsi, Khawaja, Trabelsi | Hezbollah-Amal-Al-Ahbash-FPM-IAF |
"Lebnan Herzen" | 15,773 | 10.97 | 1 | Makhzoumi | |
"Beirut al-Watan" | 7,475 | 5.20 | 0 | Salah Salam-JI | |
"We are All Beirut" | 6,174 | 4.29 | 0 | You Stink, Sabaa | |
"Voice of the People" | 1,339 | 0.93 | 0 | Mourabitoun-People's Movement-SSNP (Intifada) | |
"Dignity of Beirut" | 971 | 0.68 | 0 | ||
"Beiruti Opposition" | 553 | 0.38 | 0 | Rifi | |
"Birutah al-Mustaqilin" | 410 | 0.29 | 0 | ||
Source:[14] |
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ Beirut II has the highest number of registered Jewish voters in Lebanon, constituting 1.31% of the electorate.[citation needed] However, these numbers don't reflect actual demographics following Jewish migration out of Lebanon, in 2009 election only 5 Jews cast their votes in western Beirut.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Daily Star
- ^ Daily Star
- ^ a b دائرة بيروت الثانية Archived 2019-02-17 at the Wayback Machine. Annahar
- ^ Messerlian, Zaven. Armenian Participation in the Lebanese Legislative Elections 1934–2009. Beirut: Haigazian University Press, 2014. p. 487
- ^ 77 لائحة انتخابية من بين 917 مرشحا... وهذه الالوان المعتمدة Archived 2018-03-27 at the Wayback Machine Annahar
- ^ a b زحمة لوائح في بيروت: 14 وخروقات كثيرة. Al-Modon.
- ^ naharanet. Supporters of Mustaqbal, Rival Candidate in Beirut Brawl
- ^ a b c Daily Star. Glut of lists fighting it out in Beirut II
- ^ رئيس نادي النجمة السابق الحاج عمر غندور/ مرشح جبهة العمل الاسلامي رئيس لائحة وحدة بيروت في دائرة بيروت الثانية Archived 2018-04-29 at the Wayback Machine. Islamic Action Front
- ^ Annahar. Outsiders face uphill battle in Lebanese elections Archived 2018-06-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ الديمقراطي يعلن سحب مرشحه عن المقعد الدرزي في بيروت. Lebanese Democratic Party
- ^ ما ستحصده لائحة 8 آذار في بيروت الثانية... وزهران يتريّث. MTV
- ^ المؤتمر الشعبي أوضح أسباب عزوفه عن المشاركة في لائحة بيروت 2 Archived 2019-02-17 at the Wayback Machine. National News Agency
- ^ نتائج الإنتخابات النيابية العامة 2018. Ministry of Interior and Municipalities