Election could hand power to Iran infographic
Graphic shows a religious breakdown of Lebanon’s parliament.
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LEBANON

Election could hand power to Iran

By Phil Bainbridge

May 15, 2022 - Parliamentary elections are being held against a backdrop of political
stagnation and economic crisis, with an inability to provide basic services, the plummeting value of the Lebanese pound and disaffected Sunni voters.

High abstentions among Sunnis, together with the withdrawal from the election of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his Future Movement, could be enough to hand power to the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Within the framework of Lebanon’s denominationally accounted parliament, Hezbollah and their allies - who won 71 of the 128 seats in the last election - could control a two-thirds majority of 86 seats, enough to bypass any blocking veto.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 11/05/2022; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
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