MENA

Lebanon

Saad Hariri’s Beirut supporters boycott election with pool party

Former prime minister is not standing and has put no Future Movement candidates forward as he calls on supporters not to take part in Sunday's election

The National

May 15, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

For live coverage of the Lebanese elections click here

As Lebanese voters headed to the polls on Sunday, supporters of former prime minister Saad Hariri instead gathered for a pool party in Beirut’s streets.

The Sunni leader announced this year that he would not contest the election or put forward any Future Movement candidates for Parliament and called on his supporters to follow by boycotting the vote.

In Beirut’s Sunni stronghold of Tareeq Al Jadideh, the roads shut down and a large yellow inflatable pool was set up. Adults and children splashed in the water while residents sat and watched.

Beirut children play in an inflatable swimming pool set up by supporters of former Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri, who have boycotted the country's elections. AFP
Beirut children play in an inflatable swimming pool set up by supporters of former Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri, who have boycotted the country's elections. AFP
Mr Hariri, seen in poster, suspended his participation in Lebanese politics last year and called on his supporters to boycott Sunday’s vote. AP
Mr Hariri, seen in poster, suspended his participation in Lebanese politics last year and called on his supporters to boycott Sunday’s vote. AP
Supporters of former prime minister Saad Hariri set up an inflatable swimming pool in the Tarik El Jdideh neighborhood of Beirut, as they boycott Lebanon's elections. Getty
Supporters of former prime minister Saad Hariri set up an inflatable swimming pool in the Tarik El Jdideh neighborhood of Beirut, as they boycott Lebanon's elections. Getty
Beirut children swim in an inflatable pool that supporters of former prime minister Saad Hariri set up to illustrate their intention to boycott parliamentary elections. AP
Beirut children swim in an inflatable pool that supporters of former prime minister Saad Hariri set up to illustrate their intention to boycott parliamentary elections. AP

“We are abiding by the boycott,” said Hariri supporter Mohamed Berjawi. “We are his family. Although I am older than him, I consider him like my father [and] my father told me to boycott … Who am I going to vote for, with my respect to all … I belong to Future Movement and the Future Movement is not taking part in the vote, which means we are boycotting.”

Rabih El Omari told local newspaper L'Orient Today that “because we feel it is the same result whether we vote or not”.

An electoral worker sits next to ballot boxes, at the Justice Palace, in Jdeideh. Reuters
An electoral worker sits next to ballot boxes, at the Justice Palace, in Jdeideh. Reuters
A soldier stands guard as ballots are counted at the Justice Palace. Reuters
A soldier stands guard as ballots are counted at the Justice Palace. Reuters
Jad Ghosn, an opposition candidate, gestures as people wait for the announcement of official election results, in Jdeideh. Reuters
Jad Ghosn, an opposition candidate, gestures as people wait for the announcement of official election results, in Jdeideh. Reuters
Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announces the final results for some districts. EPA
Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announces the final results for some districts. EPA
Opposition candidate Yassin Yassin gestures as he is greeted by supporters in Jeb Jennin, West Bekaa. Reuters
Opposition candidate Yassin Yassin gestures as he is greeted by supporters in Jeb Jennin, West Bekaa. Reuters
Supporters of the Lebanese Forces take to the streets during parliamentary elections in the Ashrafieh district of Beirut. Bloomberg
Supporters of the Lebanese Forces take to the streets during parliamentary elections in the Ashrafieh district of Beirut. Bloomberg
Lebanon headed to the polls with its economy in the grip of hyperinflation. Bloomberg
Lebanon headed to the polls with its economy in the grip of hyperinflation. Bloomberg
Lebanese youths supporting Hezbollah and Amal movement wave their party flags after parliamentary elections in a suburb of Beirut. EPA
Lebanese youths supporting Hezbollah and Amal movement wave their party flags after parliamentary elections in a suburb of Beirut. EPA
Supporters of Lebanon's Shiite groups Hezbollah and Amal lift their flags during a motorbike rally after voting. AFP
Supporters of Lebanon's Shiite groups Hezbollah and Amal lift their flags during a motorbike rally after voting. AFP
Children swim in an inflatable pool that supporters of former prime minister Saad Hariri installed to illustrate their intention to boycott parliamentary elections in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo
Children swim in an inflatable pool that supporters of former prime minister Saad Hariri installed to illustrate their intention to boycott parliamentary elections in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo
Voters queue to place their vote in parliamentary elections in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
Voters queue to place their vote in parliamentary elections in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, stands in a polling booth to vote in Tebnin. Reuters
Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, stands in a polling booth to vote in Tebnin. Reuters
Voters register at a polling station in Beirut. Bloomberg
Voters register at a polling station in Beirut. Bloomberg
Lebanese President Michel Aoun follows the parliamentary elections on screens from the Presidential Palace in Beirut. AP
Lebanese President Michel Aoun follows the parliamentary elections on screens from the Presidential Palace in Beirut. AP
A Lebanese woman shows her inked finger after she cast her vote at a polling station in Beirut. AP
A Lebanese woman shows her inked finger after she cast her vote at a polling station in Beirut. AP
Voters look at a list of candidates at a polling station in Beirut. Bloomberg
Voters look at a list of candidates at a polling station in Beirut. Bloomberg
Lebanese policemen help a voter into a polling station in Beirut. AP
Lebanese policemen help a voter into a polling station in Beirut. AP
A Lebanese voter casts her ballot paper in Beirut. EPA
A Lebanese voter casts her ballot paper in Beirut. EPA
Gyorgy Holvenyi (R), chief observer of the European Union election observation mission, visits a polling station in Beirut. EPA
Gyorgy Holvenyi (R), chief observer of the European Union election observation mission, visits a polling station in Beirut. EPA
Lebanese people wait to vote during parliamentary elections in the capital city. EPA
Lebanese people wait to vote during parliamentary elections in the capital city. EPA
Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, Grand Mufti of Lebanon, casts his ballot paper during parliamentary elections in Beirut. EPA
Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, Grand Mufti of Lebanon, casts his ballot paper during parliamentary elections in Beirut. EPA
People queue to cast their votes in the Lebanese capital. AP
People queue to cast their votes in the Lebanese capital. AP
Posters in Al Tariq Al Jadida, Beirut, depict Lebanon’s former prime minister Saad Hariri. Reuters
Posters in Al Tariq Al Jadida, Beirut, depict Lebanon’s former prime minister Saad Hariri. Reuters
A woman prepares her ballot at a polling station in a southern suburb of Beirut. AFP
A woman prepares her ballot at a polling station in a southern suburb of Beirut. AFP
Former prime minister Hassan Diab, who succeeded Saad Hariri, casts his ballot in Beirut. AFP
Former prime minister Hassan Diab, who succeeded Saad Hariri, casts his ballot in Beirut. AFP
A voter checks lists for the parliamentary election at a polling station in the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP
A voter checks lists for the parliamentary election at a polling station in the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP
A woman waits to vote in Beirut. EPA
A woman waits to vote in Beirut. EPA
Security forces stand guard at Nur Square on the southern entrance of the northern Lebanese port city Tripoli. AFP
Security forces stand guard at Nur Square on the southern entrance of the northern Lebanese port city Tripoli. AFP
Former Lebanese prime minister Fouad Siniora casts his vote at a polling station during the parliamentary election, in Sidon, southern Lebanon. Reuters
Former Lebanese prime minister Fouad Siniora casts his vote at a polling station during the parliamentary election, in Sidon, southern Lebanon. Reuters
A man check voters' lists in the capital Beirut. AP
A man check voters' lists in the capital Beirut. AP
A woman votes in Lebanon's parliamentary elections in Beirut. AP
A woman votes in Lebanon's parliamentary elections in Beirut. AP
Police check the ID of voters outside a polling station near the Lebanese coastal city of Byblos (Jbeil), north of Beirut. AFP
Police check the ID of voters outside a polling station near the Lebanese coastal city of Byblos (Jbeil), north of Beirut. AFP
A voter dips her finger in ink after casting her ballot in the parliamentary election at a polling station near Byblos. AFP
A voter dips her finger in ink after casting her ballot in the parliamentary election at a polling station near Byblos. AFP
A Lebanese woman shows her ink-marked thumb after voting in Shmustar, Bekaa valley. EPA
A Lebanese woman shows her ink-marked thumb after voting in Shmustar, Bekaa valley. EPA
People queueing to vote at Ras El Nabeh Public School for Girls. Fatima Al Mahmoud/ The National
People queueing to vote at Ras El Nabeh Public School for Girls. Fatima Al Mahmoud/ The National

He said it was clear who was running the country in an apparent reference to Hezbollah and its allies and they wanted to discredit the process by ensuring “a low turnout within the Sunni sect”.

“The pool is to show that it is not an election day for us,” he told the paper.

Some said the boycott may help Hezbollah’s Sunni allies to win more seats, but those supporters of the Future Movement on the streets of Beirut on Sunday were undeterred.

Read more:

The Lebanese election through the eyes of a first-time voter

And they are not alone in turning away from the democratic process.

Nationwide turnout in the election was low, with only about 32 per cent of registered voters casting their ballots by 5pm, according to the Interior Ministry. The 2018 turnout was 48 per cent.

The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience

by David Gilmour

Allen Lane

Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars

Results

4pm: Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)

4.35pm: Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m; Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

5.10pm: Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Canvassed, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

5.45pm: Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

6.20pm: Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O’Meara

6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

7.30pm: Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Final Song, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

On Women's Day

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
 

Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt

Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure

Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers

Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised

Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Pieces of Her

Stars: Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, David Wenham, Omari Hardwick   

Director: Minkie Spiro

Rating:2/5

Abramovich London

A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.

A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.

Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.

Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
On Women's Day
The%20trailblazers
%3Cp%3ESixteen%20boys%20and%2015%20girls%20have%20gone%20on%20from%20Go-Pro%20Academy%20in%20Dubai%20to%20either%20professional%20contracts%20abroad%20or%20scholarships%20in%20the%20United%20States.%20Here%20are%20two%20of%20the%20most%20prominent.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeorgia%20Gibson%20(Newcastle%20United)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20reason%20the%20academy%20in%20Dubai%20first%20set%20up%20a%20girls%E2%80%99%20programme%20was%20to%20help%20Gibson%20reach%20her%20potential.%20Now%20she%20plays%20professionally%20for%20Newcastle%20United%20in%20the%20UK.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMackenzie%20Hunt%20(Everton)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAttended%20DESS%20in%20Dubai%2C%20before%20heading%20to%20the%20UK%20to%20join%20Everton%20full%20time%20as%20a%20teenager.%20He%20was%20on%20the%20bench%20for%20the%20first%20team%20as%20recently%20as%20their%20fixture%20against%20Brighton%20on%20February%2024.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
JERSEY INFO

Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.

RESULTS

West Asia Premiership

Thursday
Jebel Ali Dragons 13-34 Dubai Exiles

Friday
Dubai Knights Eagles 16-27 Dubai Tigers

Plastic tipping points
Mina Cup winners

Under 12 – Minerva Academy

Under 14 – Unam Pumas

Under 16 – Fursan Hispania

Under 18 – Madenat

Plastic tipping point
One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia

When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start

Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1

Tickets: Admission is free

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle

If you go

The flights

There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.

The trip

Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.

The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.

 

Updated: May 15, 2022, 7:55 PM`
LebanonLebanese elections 2022

Most popular today

1

Inside UAE’s most expensive school, from Dh200,000 fees to esports classrooms

2

Dubai's new first-time home buyer scheme to benefit existing residents amid foreign investor surge

3

The meaning behind the UAE's new dirham banknotes

4

Dubai launches scheme to help first-time investors buy properties valued up to Dh5m

5

After decades of acclaim, Brad Pitt finally has his blockbuster – and Abu Dhabi helped make it happen

6

Iker Casillas on Cristiano Ronaldo, the rise of Middle East football and the future of sport

7

Sharjah road closures in place for two months due to Etihad Rail work

8

What can be done to solve UAE traffic congestion?

9

Nothing Phone (3): UAE release date, price and everything else you need to know

10

As Dubai cracks down on illegal partitions and subletting, here's what you should know