BEIRUT: A list backed by mainstream Lebanese parties has won Beirut municipality elections, its leader said early on Monday, seeing off a challenge by an independent movement that had sought to galvanize voters angry with political paralysis.
Turnout for the first election in Lebanon in six years was around 20 percent, local media said, with polling stations on Sunday heavily guarded by armed state security personnel.
Prime Minister Tamam Salam put the poor turnout down to the politicized and uncertain atmosphere.
“In particular people did not believe the elections would go ahead and did not prepare themselves,” he said in an interview with As-Safir newspaper published on Monday.
Parliamentary elections scheduled for 2013 have been postponed twice due to political instability exacerbated by the war in neighboring Syria. Municipal elections are due to be held in other areas of the country over the next two weeks.
Turnout for the first election in Lebanon in six years was around 20 percent, local media said, with polling stations on Sunday heavily guarded by armed state security personnel.
Prime Minister Tamam Salam put the poor turnout down to the politicized and uncertain atmosphere.
“In particular people did not believe the elections would go ahead and did not prepare themselves,” he said in an interview with As-Safir newspaper published on Monday.
Parliamentary elections scheduled for 2013 have been postponed twice due to political instability exacerbated by the war in neighboring Syria. Municipal elections are due to be held in other areas of the country over the next two weeks.
