Legislative in Lebanon: the inhabitants between anger and hope

Opposition candidate in the Lebanese legislative elections, Yassin Yassin, is cheered by his supporters as Lebanese await the official election results, in Jeb Jennin, West Bekaa, Lebanon, May 16, 2022 REUTERS - AZIZ TAHER

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Lebanon, which is going through a historic economic crisis, voted this Sunday.

But despite the hopes aroused by the great protest movement against the political class of 2019, change is not really there, and abstention is high: nearly 6 out of 10 Lebanese voters did not go to vote.

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With our correspondent in Beirut,

Noé Pignède

In his forties, Marwan is rather smiling.

He voted for one of the big winners of these elections: the Lebanese Forces party.

The former militia opposed to Hezbollah becomes the first Christian force in the country.

 It's a first step.

Finally, there will be someone who has a large number of representatives against Hezbollah.

 »

Rita is still in shock at the abstention rate.

After the economic crisis and the explosion of the port of Beirut, this mother close to the opposition

expected a democratic start

.

“ 

What is this democracy?

They call it a Democratic Republic, but I don't think it's a democracy at all.

It's really depressing!

We were hoping for better results.

 »

small breakthrough

Parties close to the protest movement

won only ten seats out of 128

.

It's not much, of course, but until then they had only one member.

So, Fatima is delighted with this small breakthrough.

In her constituency in southern Lebanon, the independent list she supported won a seat.

An unprecedented victory, in a region traditionally acquired by the Amal-Hezbollah tandem.

 For the first time, we manage to make our voices heard.

So yes, this is just the start.

We are aware that the change is minimal.

But it gives us hope that we can offer a better future to our children.

 »

The elected deputies will now have to agree to appoint a Prime Minister.

Negotiations that promise to be difficult, in an extremely divided Parliament. 

►Also listen

: Can Lebanon get out of the crisis?

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