Sunday, June 07, 2009

Will Lebanese Vote Hezbollah to Power?

Update June 8: Hezbolloah defeated.

Others, cynical about politicians, are at the beach (vide0). Lebanon is a beautiful place, that's for sure.
It's Hezbollah, favored by Iran, vs. the Western-backed ruling party:
Wafaa Awad walked out of a polling station in the Hezbollah stronghold of Ghobeiri proud to have cast her vote in Lebanon's parliamentary election on Sunday for the Iran-backed Shiite militant movement.

Christian voters on the other side of town said they voted for the Western-backed ruling majority to preserve Lebanese freedoms and ensure the country does not tilt towards Iran.

"I voted for Hezbollah because they protected Lebanon from Israeli occupation," said Awad, a housewife wearing a veil and a long dark overcoat in keeping with the Islamic dress code.

A few blocks aways, Sabrine Awdeh, a blonde woman wearing jeans and a light summer blouse also said she voted for Hezbollah, "because I want change and the current ruling majority has done nothing in the past four years."

The fiercely contested general election could see an alliance led by Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and Syria, unseat the ruling Western-backed majority which is also supported by regional powerbroker Saudi Arabia. Read more.
Apparently, Christian voters, torn between the two, will be the deciders:
But Christians are the kingmakers of the vote.
Lebanon's Christian neighbourhoods are divided between the two main groups - it is this Christian choice that will sway the vote. BBC
Jimmy Carter says the results of the election should be accepted:
"I don't have any concerns over the conduct of the elections. I have concerns over the acceptance of the results by all the major parties," Mr Carter said at a polling station in Beirut.
"We also hope that the United States and Iran and Saudi Arabia and other countries will also accept the results of the election and not try to interfere in the process," he added. BBC