Charbel Hopes for Calm by-Elections as Rivals Gear up for ‘Fierce Confrontation’

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said his ministry exerted efforts to carry out the by-elections in the district of Koura on Sunday in a democratic atmosphere as the March 8 majority alliance and the March 14 opposition geared up for a tough battle to fill the Greek Orthodox seat.

“All the agencies of the ministry are ready for the event,” Charbel told As Safir daily published on Saturday. “All the measures were taken to carry out the elections in a natural, democratic, calm and peaceful atmosphere.”

He hoped there would be no security incidents during the elections and expected in remarks to LBC TV to show Lebanon’s civilized image.

March 8 is backing the Syrian Social National Party candidate, Walid al-Azar, while the opposition has announced its full support for Lebanese Forces candidate Fadi Karam in an effort to prevent the seat vacated by the death of LF MP Farid Habib in May from falling in the hands of the majority.

Four other candidates – Jean Jabr Mufarrej, Naim Moussa al-Ojaimi, Youssef Assaad Skaff and George William Mattar– are also running in the elections.

There are more than 57,000 eligible voters but only half of them are expected to cast their ballots in what LF and SSNP sources said would be a “fierce confrontation.”

The governor of the North, Nassif Qaloush, inspected the Serail of Amyoun, Koura’s capital, on Friday and was briefed by deputy governor Catherine al-Kfoury on the official preparations for the by-elections.

The 128 ballot boxes that were sent to the Serail on Friday were handed over to the heads of polling stations and their assistants on Saturday morning.