PAKRADOUNIAN FIRST WIN OF ELECTIONS, CAMPAIGNING CONTINUES FOR THE REST

NowLebanon
April 9 2009
Lebanon

With a little more than eight weeks left until the June parliamentary
elections, a winner has already been declared, as Tashnaq MP Hagop
Pakradounian was elected again in the North Metn as the first MP in
the 2009 parliament. Pakradounian’s uncontested victory came after
fellow Tashnaq member Nazareth Sabounjian withdrew his candidacy.

In an exclusive, NOW Lebanon reported Wednesday that the party’s
decision to withdraw Sabounjian’s name came following the April
7 deadline to apply for candidacy, when the Tashnaq learned that
Pakradounian, its first candidate, did not face competition in the
northern Metn district.

Meanwhile, campaigning continues for the other 701 candidates in
the running.

Also in the Metn, developments were reportedly made on the March
14-Michel al-Murr joint list, whereby Lebanese Forces candidate Eddie
Abillamaa’s candidacy would be confirmed, whereas Pierre Achkar,
who was nominated by Murr, would be left out, according to An-Nahar’s
Thursday edition.

A source told the paper that the joint list for the Metn would include
Elie Karami for the Catholic parliamentary seat, Michel Murr and Elias
Moukheiber for the two Greek Orthodox seats, Minister of State Nassib
Lahoud, Sami Gemayel, Eddy Abillamaa, and Sarkis Sarkis for the four
Maronite seats.

But things aren’t running as smoothly for the opposition
alliance. According to a source quoted in An-Nahar, not enough progress
was made with regard to resolving the dispute over lists between
Amal head Nabih Berri and Free Patriotic Leader MP Michel Aoun,
despite Hezbollah’s attempt to settle the situation.

The source told the paper that the problem between Berri and Aoun was
over the nominations of Shia, Maronite and Catholic candidates in
the Baabda, Jezzine and Zahrani districts, despite the joint visit
carried out by FPM MP Ibrahim Kanaan and Amal MP Ali Hassan Khalil
to Interior Minister Ziad Baroud on Wednesday.

The source told the paper that Hezbollah was still making efforts to
end the Berri-Aoun conflict and expected to conclude the matter by
the beginning of next week at most.

Khalil told As-Safir daily’s Thursday edition that "discussions are
ongoing, and there is no deadlock," adding that a full agreement
would be reached soon.

In another interview with As-Safir, an FPM official said there were
two criteria according to which problems could be resolved, firstly,
"the priority among opposition allies should be given to the candidate
who has the most popular support in the respective electoral district,"
and secondly, "every party should refrain from nominating a candidate
who might prove controversial to the party’s allies."

But the official did tell the paper that Aoun’s list in Batroun will
soon be revealed. The ballot reportedly includes Minister Gebran
Bassil and Fayeq Younes.

Meanwhile, al-Akhbar reported that the Communist party decided to
take part in the elections. Secretary General Khaled Hadadeh unveiled
the party’s candidates, Farouq Dahrouj, Saadallah Mazraani, Semaan
al-Laqqis, Jihad al-Mouallem and Tarek Harb.

And as the elections draw closer, preparations are not only being made
among candidates and parties, but by the security services. Defense
Minister Elias al-Murr concluded his visit to Washington Wednesday
in order to procure weapons for the military before the polling in
June. US Assistant Secretary of State David Hale revealed that the
United States intends to provide Lebanon with a range of weapons
within the next two months.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress