BEIRUT // An election battle that could topple the pro-western government of Lebanon in favour of a coalition led by Hizbollah unfolded yesterday as millions of eligible Lebanese voters flooded polling stations in far greater numbers than anticipated by authorities.
Despite the presence of more than 50,000 security forces in Beirut and surrounding towns, poll workers were caught by surprise by the massive turnout.
Voters thronged by the thousands around the country just after the polls opened at 7am and by midday candidates and officials from both sides were complaining that their supporters might be unable to vote before the polls close at 7pm. Official results were not expected before today. The long-awaited contest could resolve a more than two-year-old power struggle between the pro-western coalition of Sunni, Druze and some Christian parties and a newly emboldened alliance of Shiite parties led by Hizbollah and its Christian allies, led by Michel Aoun, a former general.
Tensions between the two sides led to political paralysis in 2006 after the summer war with Israel that remained unresolved until a series of sectarian clashes in May 2008 forced both sides to compromise on a unity government led by Michel Suleiman as president. But yesterday's polling could give one side a clear advantage in the continuing power struggle.
But the fight for control of the 128-seat parliament will not end with yesterday's poll, regardless of which side wins, but will begin the negotiations over the composition of the next government. Although the opposition has said it will pursue some form of a unity government with the current government should it win, the so-called March 14 coalition led by Saad Hariri, son of Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister assassinated in 2005, has rejected including opponents in its cabinet.
There are widespread and legitimate fears that the failure to agree on a post-election government that is acceptable to both sides could see a repeat of last year's violence.
The major Sunni and Shiite parties will be able to control their chances through impressively funded voter-turnout efforts, as well as with an election law heavily weighted towards protecting entrenched political interests.
But Lebanon's Christian minority and its fractious internal politics will provide the margin of victory for the eventual outcome. And many of these key swing districts are located in a handful of Christian areas around the Mount Lebanon region, where security was intense.
Despite concerns that security forces would be unable to contain potential flashpoints, the voting yesterday was essentially free of violence with only a handful of small-scale altercations disrupting only a few polling places.
More than 3.2 million people were eligible to vote in a country that numbers only four million people because of the huge size of the Lebanese diaspora. Tens of thousands of potential voters arrived from abroad in the days before the elections.
The widespread participation in the voting led to one of the day's biggest controversies, with Mr Aoun complaining that his supporters were unable to cast their ballots in districts critical to an opposition victory. After casting his vote in a southern Beirut district, Mr Aoun said: "I blame the authorities for not the taking the right procedures.
"We warned them in the national dialogue. People are humiliated and packed in lines and the process is too slow."
The interior minister, Ziad Baroud, who is nominally aligned with Mr Aoun's political party, called for patience and calm, describing the turnout as unprecedented. But the controversy could provide ammunition for either side to dispute the final results when they are official announced this afternoon.
In a press conference yesterday, Mr Baroud defended the process. "The reason why voting is taking longer than expected is because people are not lining up properly and not co-operating to make it easier on everyone to come in and vote. We cannot extend the deadline for the voting because it is illegal."
In the critical swing district of Borj Hammoud, MP Ghassan Moukhiaber, a member of Mr Aoun's bloc, expressed tentative optimism about the results and the process. "I can never be confident right now, but only optimistic and hopeful that I will win," he said in an interview.
As Mr Moukhiaber spoke, international observers led by Jimmy Carter, a former US president, arrived to check on conditions in the voting station, which was located in a police headquarters.
"Things seem to be going fine," Mr Carter said. "But we will see what happens later."
He then began interviewing voters and polling officials about the long lines and access to the voting system to determine if the elections were being conducted fairly.
In the southern suburbs of Beirut, a longtime Hizbollah stronghold that remains the ancestral home to many Christian voters, many voters complained about the long lines and crowd control issues to international observers from the America National Democracy Institute. "I have been here for more than 2½ hours," said Antoinette, a 50-year-old Christian supporter of Mr Aoun. "I got pushed and yelled at, this is not normal," she complained to observers as she left without casting her vote.
"They scratched my arms; it's a jungle in here, not an election process."
Incidents appeared to be of garden-variety problems related to the large crowds and not the result of sectarian and political violence as many had feared. One voting monitor from Mr Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement, who would not give his name, said there was some minor tension with their rivals in the Christian village of Roumieh, which is fairly evenly split between Mr Aoun and government supporters.
"In the early morning the Lebanese Forces [a pro-government Christian party] partisans were not allowing our observers to enter the polling stations. There was some pushing and the army intervened right away." In the heart of Christian Lebanon, the mountainous al-Metn district, which is considered a bellwether fight between the Christian rivals, fears of intra-Christian violence never materialised.
One government supporter said he did not fear election violence but rather worried that a March 14 victory might lead to Hizbollah repeating its violent takeover of Beirut in May 2008 that killed scores of people. "I voted for the full list of March 14," said Serge Abi Raad, a 30-year old voter from Bikfaya. "They will make the change we are waiting for, and I am willing to give them a second chance."
In Bikfaya and across al-Metn, voters turned out dressed in their Sunday best, including hats and heels, some arriving at the polling booths straight after church.
Others waited until after the family lunch before casting their vote.
Children of all ages dressed from head to toe in party colours stood on street corners and in the middle of the road handing out electoral lists to those passing by.
After successfully holding a safe election, the Lebanese now wait for today's results and the political manoeuvring to establish a new government that will follow.
mprothero@thenational.ae
With additional reporting by Nour Samaha
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Engine: Duel electric motors
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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
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The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
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On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Ferrari
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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
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The biog
Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito
Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa
Hobby: Running. "I like to think I’m artsy but I’m not".
Favourite move: Romantic comedies, specifically Return to me. "I cry every time".
Favourite spot in Abu Dhabi: Saadiyat beach
The biog
Name: Sarah Al Senaani
Age: 35
Martial status: Married with three children - aged 8, 6 and 2
Education: Masters of arts in cultural communication and tourism
Favourite movie: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
Favourite hobbies: Art and horseback ridding
Occupation: Communication specialist at a government agency and the owner of Atelier
Favourite cuisine: Definitely Emirati - harees is my favourite dish
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
RESULT
Everton 2 Huddersfield Town 0
Everton: Sigurdsson (47'), Calvert-Lewin (73')
Man of the Match: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)
Honeymoonish
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The Laughing Apple
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
(Verve Decca Crossover)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Ukraine
Capital: Kiev
Population: 44.13 million
Armed conflict in Donbass
Russia-backed fighters control territory
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
