The maronite struggle

 

 

Of all the battles waged in West Asia, the one in Lebanon seems to be the most interesting and peculiar. It is because this electoral battle between the two Maronite Christians will have serious implications on the future of a predominantly Muslim nation. Here, Lebanon’s government and the opposition, led by the Islamic militant Hezbollah, have been locked in a fierce power struggle.

Lebanon’s opposition has captured one of the two Parliament seats that came up for elections to replace the assassinated ruling party lawmakers. Meanwhile, the government coalition retained the second seat virtually unopposed. Although the vote was for just two of the 128 seats in Parliament, it could affect the political future of this deeply divided nation by influencing who lawmakers elect as president later this year. Reacting to the results, noted Lebanese expert, Oussama Safa said, “The scale has virtually tipped in the favour of Hezbollah now.”

Voters picked candidates to replace Pierre Gemayel, a Christian who was shot dead in November, and Walid Eido, a Sunni Muslim killed in a Beirut car bomb in June. The key vote was a bitter contest in the Metn region, a Christian stronghold northeast of Beirut. Amin Gemayel, a former president from 1982-88 running on behalf of the government was defeated by Kamil Khoury, a political newcomer supported by Christian opposition leader, Michel Aoun. Aoun is a former army commander and interim prime minister allied with the opposition. While pro-government politicians accuse the opposition of being agents for Iran and Syria, Hezbollah leaders and Aoun accuse the ruling majority of subservience to USA.