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Lebanon

Lebanese elections: Gebran Bassil blames US and Israel for party's woes

The head of the Free Patriotic Movement could also lose his seat in parliament

Jamie Prentis
Jamie Prentis

May 16, 2022

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Follow live Lebanese election coverage here

Gebran Bassil, the head of the Christian-led Free Patriotic Movement, has hit out at what he said was a US and Israeli conspiracy in the Lebanese parliamentary election.

He made his claim as it appeared his party was set to lose seats in the election.

Mr Bassil, considered a parliamentary ally of Hezbollah and the incumbent MP for Batroun, said his party was not in a battle with Lebanese parties.

Instead, he said, they were in battle that began on October 17, 2019, when protests against Lebanon’s ruling classes spread across the country —demonstrations he claimed were engineered by the US, Israel and “its allies”.

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

Mr Bassil also reiterated his criticism of sanctions the US imposed on him personally in 2020 for alleged corruption and ties to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite political party and militant group.

READ MORE

Lebanon's 'anti-establishment' parties confident of breaking into parliament

The polls closed at 7pm on Sunday night in Lebanon.

Official results on the final make-up of the 128-member parliament have yet to come and will not be formally announced until the coming days.

Preliminary results, however, have given an indication of where the mood is going, with some already declaring victory.

The FPM has been the biggest Christian party in parliament since its founder, President Michel Aoun, returned from exile in 2005 in France.

Mr Aoun is the father-in-law of Mr Bassil.

The FPM has won as many as 16 seats, down from 18 in 2018, Sayed Younes, the head of its electoral machine, told Reuters.

Its main Christian rival in parliament, the Lebanese Forces, has won at least 20 seats, up from 15 in 2018, said the head of its press office, Antoinette Geagea.

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Fixtures and results:

Wed, Aug 29:

  • Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
  • Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
  • UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs

Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman

Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal

Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore

Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu, Sep 6: Final

TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5

Company%20profile
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Three tips from La Perle's performers

1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.

2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.

3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.

Kareem Shaheen on Canada
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