Report: Failure of Alliances in Municipal Polls Sign of Lack of Political Agenda

The failure of the main Christian parties of the Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement to reach an alliance in the Mount Lebanon elections is indicative of the tensions in the country, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Sunday.

Political sources noted that the lack of coherent alliance among the parties is a sign that “none of them have a political or municipal agenda given the sectarian tensions in the country.”

Concerned sources told the daily: “Those speaking of returning Christians to the state and achieving effective partnership have forgotten the main reason for the weakening of this partnership, which is the absence of a president at the head of the executive authority and the state.”

“Those waging electoral battles in the Metn region, most notably the Free Patriotic Movement, have been boycotting presidential elections session, so how are the rights of Christians being preserved through their actions?”

They voiced their alarm at the “weak” alliances that were based on interests and mutual gain as opposed to principles.

“We have not seen any party agenda aimed at municipal development, but we have seen the manipulation of sectarian sentiments being used as an only weapon,” lamented the sources.

“The electoral alliances have reached such a point that the FPM and Lebanese Forces have reached an agreement to eliminate the National Liberal Party.”

The Mount Lebanon municipal elections kicked off on Sunday.

They are the second round of the four-stage municipal polls that started on May 8 in Beirut and the Bekaa region.

The next round is set for the South and Nabtiyeh on May 22 and the final round is set for May 29 in the North and Akkar.