QUEST FOR CONSENSUS IN POLLS PERSISTS IN CHOUF, METN
Elias Sakr and Maher Zeineddine
Daily Star
on_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=114074#axzz0 lr3V769N
April 22 2010
Lebanon
Tashnag believed to be mediating between FPM, Phalange
BEIRUT/ CHOUF: Efforts continued in the Chouf and Metn regions
Wednesday to reach consensus among political parties and families
over members of municipal councils to be elected on May 2.
In the Metn region, the Armenian Tashnag party is believed to be
mediating negotiations between the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM),
MP Michel Murr and the Phalange Party, media reports said on Tuesday.
Similarly, in the Chouf, Progressive Socialist Party MP Walid Jumblatt
was seeking to avoid an electoral battle as he succeeded so far in
Baaklin, Barouq and Jahlieh towns.
Baaklin’s incumbent Mayor Noha Ghossaini is expected to retain her
post after candidate Salim Abu Ismail agreed to withdraw his candidacy
while Elie Nakhle is expected to run for the post of mayor in Barouk.
As for Jahlieh town, Jumblatt agreed with Tawhid Movement head Wi’am
Wahhab to split the twelve municipal council seats equally between
both parties with current Mayor Amin Abu Diab to retain his post.
When it comes to the coastal Chouf region, the Nehmeh and Damour
towns seem to be heading toward an electoral battle with political
and family considerations governing the alliances.
As for the Metn town of Jal al-Dib city, serving Mayor Edouard Zard
Abou Jaoude reached an agreement with families and political parties
to form a municipal council away from politics with developmental
ambitions, the Central News Agency (CNA) reported Wednesday.
The southern coastal city of Sidon also found a way Tuesday to avoid a
political battle with the nomination of businessman Mohammad al-Saudi
as a consensus candidate as he pursues efforts to convince concerned
parties to agree on the identity of the 21 council members.
Saudi was suggested by Future Movement MP Bahia Hariri and former
Premier Fouad Siniora as a consensus candidate which former MP Osama
Saad, current Sidon Mayor Abdel-Rahman al-Bizri and other factions
including Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya approved.
Concerning Beirut, media reports said Hizbullah would support its
ally, FPM leader Michel Aoun whether the latter decides to engage in
an electoral battle or reach a consensus with the Future Movement.
The CNA quoted opposition sources as saying that they would reject any
agreement that grants them less than seven seats in the municipality
council since the FPM sought true partnership in decision making.
Last week, Aoun anticipated in an electoral battle in Beirut dismissing
recent media reports regarding a potential agreement with the Future
Movement.
"We will lose the elections but that is fine," Aoun told reporters
at his residence in Rabieh following his bloc’s meeting last Tuesday.
On Wednesday, March 14 Beirut MP Michel Pharaon held talks with FPM
official and Energy and Water Resources Minister Jebran Bassil during
which Pharaon made a proposal to Bassil that the latter rejected,
the CNA reported.
With the deadline to submit candidacies set for Wednesday at midnight,
over 2,000 candidates running for 852 municipal seats and another
150 running for mukhtar have already submitted their candidacy.
Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud told As-Safir newspaper in remarks
published Tuesday that his ministry prepared a comprehensive plan
ahead of the elections to enforce security measures guaranteeing the
voters’ safety.
Starting Friday, the 1790 hotline setup by the Interior ministry
would be running to receive complaints throughout the duration of
the electoral process, Baroud said.
The minister added that 6,600 security officers and a similar number
of army soldiers would be spread out in Mount Lebanon to enforce
security measures. Another 7,700 employees would be ready to cover
3,300 electoral posts in Mount Lebanon.