No date has yet been announced for next year's General Election. A firm date is something which overseas visitors would welcome so that they can plan next year's vacation to Lebanon. Some to avoid the period others to vote.

On Friday, 5th December 2008, the Minister of the Interior & Municipalities, Ziad Baroud, was quoted saying that, "I am committed through the government to hold elections on time during the constitutional period, meaning April 20th and June 2009." It seems to be accepted in Lebanon that when ever the election is held it will be held on one day, normally a Sunday.

The Minister has also been quoted saying that his Ministry is issuing 6,000 identity cards every day to enable electors to vote, with some 600,000 identity card to be issued. He asked that those concerned with issuing the cards, including municipalities, ensure that the issuing process is maintained. It was also reported that the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, said that in the event that people did not received their identity card in time he would act in coordination with the Lebanese Cabinet to ensure that they could vote.

The date of the General Election has also been raised in the Lebanese newspaper,Al Balad,today which speculates that the election will be held either on Sunday 10th or 17th May 2009.

They say that a date in May is more likely so that the summer season will not be adversely affected. The present mandate of the Lebanese Parliament, they explain, ends on 20th June 2009. Also pointed out in the report is that under the Election Law of 2009, Presidents of Municipal Councils need to have resigned their office six months prior to the new Parliament to be able to be elected a Member of Parliament. This deadline being only a couple of weeks away.

As an illustration on the basis that the General Election will be held on Sunday, 17th May 2009, the Decree confirming the date has to be made before 17th February 2009, being the ninety day period under Article 44 of the Law. Candidates who wish to stand would need to submit their nominations by 17th March 2009, being the sixty day period under Article 49 of the Law. This would mean that Easter will be in the middle of the election campaign, Good Friday being 10th April 2009.

The Al Balad, report can be read from the below links:

Arabic

English - Google

The Election Law 2009 can read from the below links:

Arabic

English

The politics of Zgharta Zawie has come under the spotlight in Saturday's issue of the Lebanese newspaper, As Safir.

The journalist, Hasna Saade, writes on the early declarations of the main contenders of their respective lists and how she sees the parties positioned for the forthcoming General Election.

It is the policy of zgharta.com not to support any particular political viewpoint and the publication of articles by others does not indicate support or otherwise. We believe that as the only online, " independent voice of Zgharta Zawie," as one of our slogans state, we should report what is being written about Zgharta Zawie. Our role is to ensure that our readers in the worldwide community are informed as to what is being said. It is for them to decide if they agree or not with what is said. We at, zgharta.com, offer the right of reply.

In Lebanon, as in other countries, newspapers support a particular political viewpoint and As Safir, is considered to follow a pro March 8th stance. The website, Allied Media Corp, says that the newspaper was,' first issued on 26th March 1974 in Beirut, as an Arabic political daily. Its motto was, and still is, "the Voice of the Voiceless" and its slogan "Lebanon's Newspaper in the Arab World and the Arab World's Newspaper in Lebanon" '. The name means, The Ambassador, in Arabic. It's owner and Editor in Chief is Talal Salman, who was born 1938 in Chmistar, Bekaa Valley.

As we approach the General Election, when we put online newspaper articles on politics we shall also mention the newspaper's perceived political stance for the sake of balance. This is not to cast any aspirations on the validity of articles.

The article can be read from the below links:

Arabic

English - Google

In September 2008 the Lebanese Parliament passed the new Election Law for the 2009 General Election.

The website of the United Nations Development Programme for Electoral Law Reform in Lebanon, www.lebanon-elections.org has put online the Election Law in Arabic and English.

The versions can be read from the links:

Arabic

English

Although there have been in recent times two main candidate lists - headed by Former Ministers, Sleiman Tony Frangieh and Mrs. Nayla René Moawad respectively, for Zgharta Zawie in the General Elections, there have always been other candidates standing for election, the "also runs".

The reason for these "also runs" standing is a matter of conjecture. Whether it was to demonstrate their poltical stance at the time, to put down a marker for future elections, or to test and show the level of local support to others, are possible reasons. What is perhaps more pertinent to ask is why it seems that their standing was strange in itself, the implication being that their standing was futile, against the odds, when their defeat was certain. Should democracy be that certain ?

We believe that the unelected, whether on losing lists or "also runs", are the guardians of democracy, ensuring that the elected are answerable for their actions next time round. The electorate has the power of the ballot to judge the elected but without alternative candidates the electorate is powerless to change their representatives. The elected should fear the unelected.

The "also runs" have a role in democracy. They democractise democracy. At the ballot box all candidates are equal.

To read the complete article go to the Full Story page.
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The date of the Lebanese General Election in 2009 has been a matter of conjecture in the Lebanese media in recent days, ranging from May to Mid June 2009.

This follows the resignation of the President of the Deir el Qanar Municipal Council, Dory Chamoun, to enable himself to stand as an candidate in the General Election. He is the eldest son of the late President Camille Chamoun (1952-1958), and is the head of the National Liberal Party. The timing of his resignation arose from the recent amendment in Parliament of the Election Law, whereby Presidents and Vice Presidents of Municipal Councils need to have resigned six months before the general election date, having given 15 days prior notice of intent, to stand as a member of parliament.

The current Parliament's mandate ends on Friday, 20th June 2009, which means that Municipal Presidents and Vice Presidents would need to give notice and resign before 20th December 2008, to stand. Some commentators are suggesting that the General Election may be brought forward to say May 2009, if the parties agree, with a view of "freeing" the summer months of political electioneering and negotiations involved in forming the next government.

Against that view is some who say that as Parliament did not agree to give Lebanese nationals living overseas the right to vote where they live, some parties may need the added boost of summer visitors to vote.

The Lebanese Parliament has agreed in its debate concerning electoral reform, that the constituencies for the forthcoming General Election be those, subject to some changes in Beirut, which were set out in the 1960 Election Law. This means that the Caza of Zgharta, encompassing Zgharta Zawie, will be a single constituency returning three Maronite Members of Parliament.

The candidates who get the most votes overall within the Constituency will be declared members of parliament.

In the 2005 General Election the list of candidates who gave notice of standing were, (alphabetical order)

Jawad Simon Boulos (elected)
Estephane Boutros Doueihi
Youssef Doueihi (withdrew prior to the election date)
Samir Hamid Frangieh (elected)
Sleiman Tony Frangieh
Salim Youssef Karam
Kaissar Farid Mouawad
Nayla René Mouawad (elected)

The total of registered voters for the 2005 General Election were 67,056, of which 19,739 were registered voters for Zgharta and 47,317 for the other towns and villages of the Caza.

The list of Zgharta Zawie Members of Parliament since 1953 are shown on the Full Story page.
Full Story

On Saturday, 27th September 2008, the Lebanese Parliament voted on 57 clauses of the electoral reform bill. The main clauses voted on include:

1. The General Election to be held on day throughout Lebanon.

2. President's of Municipal Council's may stand as members of parliament provided they resign six months before an election.

3. President's of Unions of Municipal Councils may stand as members of parliament provided they resign two years before an election.

4. Against members of the Lebanese Army to vote in an General Election.

Parliament will reconvene on Monday at 10.30am to debate the remaining 61 clauses. It seems unlikely, commentators say, that the voting age will be changed to 18 for the 2009 General Election. It has already been agreed that voting by Lebanese nationals overseas will be deferred until the 2013 General Election.

The last General Election of 2005, was held over consecutive sundays: 29th May for Beirut; 5th June for South Lebanon; 12th June for Bekka & Mount Lebanon and 19th June for North Lebanon.

The Ministry of the Interior & Municipalities published in February 2005 the list of eligible registered voters for Zgharta Zawie. Total registered voters were 67,056, of which 19,739 were registered voters for Zgharta and 47,317 for the other towns and villages of the Caza. Such figures include those registered voters who live overseas. In the 2000 General Election there were 62,477 registered voters of which 25,578 voted. In the 2005 General Election turnout in Zgharta was estimated at 52.5%.

With reference to Zgharta Zawie, the provision as to President's of Municipal Councils and Unions is only relevant if a President of a Zgharta Zawie Council wishes to stand as an independent member of parliament in 2009. In that the main Zgharta Zawie parties have already declared their intended list of candidates, without including an existing President. The President of Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council, Gen. Joseph Maarrawi, seems excluded in any event as he is also the President of the Union of Zgharta Zawie Municipal Councils. What the provision shows is the importance attached to the powers of such Presidents within a council and particularly unions. Increasingly, presidents of unions are controlling larger budgets and projects as NGO's prefer to deal with larger units rather than individual and smaller units.

The Lebanese newspaper, An Nahar, in its Thursday's edition has reprinted the proposed election law to be debated in Parliament this weekend.

It can be read from here:

PDF Arabic

PDF English - Google

The Lebanese Parliament will convene on Saturday, 27th September 2008 at 10.30 a.m. to debate and vote on the new electoral law. It seems whether the General Election will be held on the same day throughout Lebanon or on two days; and whether President's of Municipal Councils, who resign six months before the elction, can stand as an member of parliament, is still subject to debate.

Commemorators are suggesting that the debate is likely to go over to the following week.

Let us hear from you with your opinions concerning electoral reform - one day voting - caza constituencies - voting for men & women at 18 - restrictions for Municipal Council President's standing- overseas voting 2009/2013 contact@zgharta.com

It has been announced today that the Administration and Justice Parliamentary Committee, who is responsible for drafting the new electoral law, has agreed that the 2009 General Election be held on one day. This follows assurances given by the Minister of Defence Elias al Murr, to the Minister of the Interior & Municipalities Ziad Baroud, that the Lebanese Army has confirmed it is able to provide adequate security on the day of the election. In previous years the General Election has been held on four consecutive Sundays.

But, having agreed in the principle to allowing Lebanese nationals to vote overseas, the Committee has however postponed its implementation until the 2013 General Election. The reason given is of logistical problems faced by the Foreign Ministry in enabling earlier implementation.

All the recommendations of the Committee need to be voted on by the Lebanese Parliament which is scheduled to meet to vote on electoral reform, including the size and structure of constituencies, later this month.

On the question of lowering the age of voting to 18, there is a debate whether this involves amending the Lebanese Constitution, rather than simply putting such provision in the propose electoral law. Different Parliamentary procedures are prescribed in respect of amendments to the Constitution and new laws.

Some commentators are dubious that the majority of Members of Parliament on all sides will vote for an reduction on the basis that there is an inherent feeling that "young Lebanese" are not ready to take on such a responsible role.

News Upadate 20 Sept 2008: Naharnet reports Minister Baroud saying on Saturday that his Ministry, " would adopt the ID card and the passport as means to identify the voters in the upcoming elections because they are not easily forged."

The website of, El Marada, reported on Sunday that former Minister Sleiman Tony Frangieh and the leader of the party, announced his intended choice of candidates for Zgharta Zawie in the forthcoming general election.

The candidates mentioned for the list, which is subject to an formal announcement, are Sleiman Tony Frangieh, Estephane Doueihi, Salim Karam. The announcement was made during the annual Karam family dinner on Saturday.

Of the other two candidates. Estephane Boutros El Doueihi was born in 1953, Zgharta. His parents were Boutros and Mariam (née Abshi). He married Mary Abed, in 1981 and they have three children, Stephanie, Antoini, and Boushra.

He was appointed a Member of Parliament in 1991 following the death of his uncle, Father Semaan El Doueihi (1918-1988) who at the time of his death was a sitting member of Zgharta Zawie. In the General Elections of 1992 and 1996 he was elected on the list of the then Minister Frangieh. In 1995 he was appointed Minister of Social Affairs.

Salim Youssef Karam was born in 1946, Zgharta. His parents were Youssef Bey and Mariette (née Tarabay). Salim married in 1975, Marina Nabih Chammas and they have two daughters, Rita and Christina.

The main photograph courtesy of El Marada, shows left to right: Salim Karam, Sleiman Frangieh and Estephane Doueihi.

Other lists declared so far have been that of Michel René Mouawad's, with Jawad Simon Boulos and Youssef Douaihy, the great nephew of Father Semaan El Doueihi.

The Constituency of Zgharta Zawie returns three Members of Parliament.

We reported on Monday the recommendation of the Administration and Justice Parliamentary Committee, that Presidents of Municipal Council's should continued to be disbarred from standing as an member of parliament for two years after office and that the period for Presidents of Municipal Councils be shorten to six months.

Such recomendations has been supported or rejected by certain political parties. The Free Patriotic Movement is against any change. At a meeting of municipal councils at Mina Tripoli the Lebanese media reported that the meeting was against the time limits. The Vice President of the Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council, George Akle, attended and who is quoted as speaking against the restrictions.

The articles of two newspapers can be read from the below links.

As Safir

Aliwaa

This week, the Lebanese Parliamentary Committee, who is responsible for drafting the new electoral law, will be holding meetings to discuss further the provisions of the new law. The Lebanese Parliament is scheduled to convene to vote on the provisions on 25th September 2008.

Today, the Lebanese website, Now Lebanon, reports that the Committee has approved Lebanese emigrant's right to vote. The report is reproduce below. Interestingly it also mentions the restrictions on Presidents of Municipal Councils and Unions to stand as an member of parliament. Watch out for any President of an Zgharta Zawie council resigning in the next coming weeks! It's to late for Gen. Joseph Maarrawi, as he is both the President of the Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council and the Union (Federation) of Zgharta Zawie Municipal Councils.

Now Lebanon

8th September 2008

After a meeting in Nejmeh Square on Monday, the parliamentary Administration and Justice Committee approved Lebanese emigrants’ right to vote in the 2009 parliamentary elections.

All Lebanese citizens residing outside Lebanon can vote, the committee announced, on condition they register at the respective Lebanese embassy.

Lebanese embassies are to send the list of registered voters to the Interior Ministry by 2009.

The committee also agreed on the tenth article of the electoral draft law, which says that heads of municipalities should resign six months before elections, rather than two years, if they wish to run for parliamentary elections.

The heads of the federation of municipalities are still required to resign two years prior to their candidacy for elections.

Naharnet News also wrote this evening, under the headline, "Parliamentary Committee Allows Non-Resident Citizens to Vote" that

"The Administration and Justice Parliamentary committee on Monday urged Lebanese citizens living abroad to register with the respective embassies so that their names would be included in the voters' lists for the 2009 elections. ,

Committee Chairman Robert Ghanem told reporters Lebanese diplomatic missions would send names of voters to Beirut by Dec. 31, so that central authorities would add them to voters' lists in a month time, allowing them to vote where their reside.,

"We did not give them the right to vote. It is their non-alienable right. We only created the mechanism that allows them to vote where they are living," Ghanem explained. ,

The reforms would be proposed to parliament for tackling by a general session prior to a vote for adoption into law."

The Lebanese website, Now Lebanon, reports today that the Lebanese Parliamentary Committee, who is responsible for drafting the new electoral law, was deliberating on the question of overseas nationals voting abroad in the 2009 General Election. The report is reproduce below.

If the case, and some are doubting it because of logistical problems to be resolved in the time in hand, expect Lebanese politicians visiting the street where you live.

The Report of the National Commission on Electoral Law Reform, commonly referred to as the "Boutros Report" named after the Chairman of the Commission, former Minister Fouad Boutros, provides for voting at Lebanese Embassies or Consulates. To vote its says that you will need to be registered on the Electoral Roll, which is prepared in Lebanon. Article 35 of the Reports says that, "Voter rolls must include: the voter’s full name, his father and mother’s names, his record number as per personal status records, his sex, his date and place of birth, his confession, and his voting place." On Election day the voter's Lebanese ID or Lebanese passport will need to be produce at the Embassy or Consulate, to enable checking against the electoral roll.

It is envisage that the new electoral law, which would include new regulations as to the conduct of the election, will be before the Lebanese Parliament on its next sitting, to be held on 25th September 2008. Among the other issues to be voted upon is the distribution of seats, the method of voting, whether the election is held on the same day and the bringing down the age to vote to 18.

Now Lebanon

2nd September 2008

Administration and Justice Committee discusses granting Lebanese emigrants right to vote

The Administration and Justice Committee on Tuesday discussed allowing Lebanese emigrants to vote in the 2009 parliamentary elections. The committee has suggested permitting Lebanese residing outside Lebanon to vote on condition their names were registered on electoral lists.

MP Robert Ghanem, the chairmen of the committee, said that the Interior Ministry would send a letter on the matter to the Foreign Ministry in the next 24 hours.

Ghanem said that things would evolve depending on the Foreign Ministry’s response.

Following our articles in the series, General Election 2009, concerning the Lebanese overseas community and its enfranchisement, we have invited people to comment on the issues raised.

We publish the comments of Sarkis Karam, El Marada Media Liaison Officer of El Marada Australia, on the Full Story page.

Once again we state that zgharta.com continues its policy of being neutral in matters of politics and that we do not support any particular party, movement or group. The series, General Election 2009, attempts to cover the news of the forthcoming Lebanese General Election and the national debate on electoral reform in an neutral and informed way. It is not intended to be a platform for electioneering. The views expressed by contributors or authors of articles we report are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of zgharta.com


Full Story

As the momentum towards the 2009 Lebanese General Election gathers apace, with the Lebanese Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform decisions being announced per meeting, and with "unofficial" leaks, of who is on whose electoral list, emerging almost daily; the question of the émigré vote is becoming recognise in the media and, not so far behind, perhaps even ahead, by political parties, movements or groupings.

It is fact to say that there are more "Lebanese" living out of Lebanon than in. It is fact that Lebanese parties, movements and groupings have begun, some sooner than others, to realise that they have to organise their overseas support either to encourage them coming to Lebanon at the time of an election or, in the event of electoral reform providing for greater enfranchisement, to vote for them from overseas.

If those living overseas become part of the greater enfranchised electoral constituency, then those local organisations who have sought to represent the local community as an whole, risk becoming prey to partisanism and thereby destroying themselves. Getting the vote is a privilege but it can also be the cause of discord.Therefore local organisations need to be aware of the challenges increase enfranchisement may cause.

For readers comments go to the Full Story page.
Full Story

As part of zgharta.com ongoing series, General Election 2009, where we post articles written by others on electoral reform and the forthcoming 2009 General Election, we post a recent report published by the International Crisis Group. The subject matter of the report is the role the Christian community in Lebanon will play in the forthcoming Lebanese General Election, as seen by its authors.

By way of background information, the Group was established in 1995 and its current President is former Australian Foreign Minister, Gareth Evans. Board members include, former UK Minister and Governor of Hong Kong, Lord Patten and former US Ambassador Thomas R Pickering. To learn more about the Group, and to put the Report into prespective, visit the Group's website at www.crisisgroup.org

We reproduce the Group's Press Release about the Report as well as the English summary of the Report, which is in French (a link is provided for the French version) on the Full Story page. The underling theme of the Report is that the Christian electorate will have a major role in deciding the makeup of the next Parliament and Government; indeed Lebanon's future.

Once again we state that zgharta.com continues its policy of being neutral in matters of politics and does not support any particular party, movement or group. The views expressed by the author's of those articles and reports we reproduce in the series, are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of zgharta.com


Full Story

As part of zgharta.com coverage of articles concerning electoral reform and the 2009 General Election, we post on the Full Story page the Daily Star's report of the Issam Fares Institute's panel discussion on the subject of reform.
Full Story

Throughout the lead up to the General Election, zgharta.com will endeavour to bring to its readers articles written on the question of electoral reform and other related matters.

To read the complete series go to NEWS DIGEST ARCHIVE 2008

The Lebanese English language newspaper, The Daily Star, has commissioned three articles on the Report of National Commission on Electoral Reform, which has become known as the Boutros Law, after the Chairman of the Commission, former Minister Fouad Boutros. The articles can be read on the Full Story page and the 1960 Election Law can be downloaded from there as well.


Full Story

As part of an ongoing series concerning the forthcoming Lebanese General Election and the national debate on the election laws, we post two articles appearing today in the media on the National Conference on Electoral Law held in Beirut on Wednesday. One of the speakers at the Conference was Zgharta Zawie Member of Parliament Samir Hamid Frangieh.

The articles appear on the Full Story page.
Full Story

For those coming this year to Lebanon it will be a good opportunity to make sure that your official papers are in order to enable you to vote in the 2009 General Election.

One of the major subjects to be debated in the Lebanese Parliament is the amendment of the laws relating to the holding of general elections. Although the DOHA Agreement has provided for the basis of the constituencies, broadly based on the Caza structure, it was left to Parliament to agree what, if any, of the recommendations of the Report of the National Commission on Electoral Law Reform, becomes law. The Report is commonly referred to as the "Boutros Law" named after the Chairman of the Commission, former Minister Fouad Boutros.

Chief among the Commission's recommendations are the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18 and for Lebanese expatriates to vote where they are domiciled as oppose to having to come to Lebanon and vote. This may be doubly important if the general election is not called in the traditional months of summer, when expatriates would be visting Lebanon in any event. There has been mention that the 2009 General Election may be held in May or even April.

The Commission's Report provides for voting at Lebanese Embassies or Consulates, but to vote you need to be registered on the electoral roll, which is prepared in Lebanon. Article 35 of the Reports says that, "Voter rolls must include: the voter’s full name, his father and mother’s names, his record number as per personal status records, his sex, his date and place of birth, his confession, and his voting place." You will will need to produce either your Lebanese ID or Lebanese passport to vote at an Embassy or Consulate, to enable them to check against the electoral roll.

If expatriate voting is agreed we envisage many Lebanese parties opening campaign offices in the major overseas cities where the Lebanese diaspora live. The, El Marada, politcal party led by former Minister Sleiman Tony Frangieh, have already had the foresight to established websites and local organizations in Australia and Brazil. Estimates vary for the Lebanese diaspora, between 4 to 15 million, but such figures are based more on family origins than those holding Lebanese nationality. There are no official figures for Lebanese nationals living aboard, but what is clearly the case is that if they can vote overseas they will have a significance impact on the election results in certain constituencies. Expect a drive for Lebanese nationals to register for voting and local canvassing.

A Guide to the Commission's Report can be read from here. The Guide was prepared by the "Civil Campaign for Electoral Reform,” founded by the Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA), the Lebanese Centre for Policy Studies (LCPS), and in close coordination with the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE).

Many forums and blogs in Lebanon are already discussing various machinations and crystal ball gazing in relation to Zgharta Zawie politcs.

What does seem to be a common view is that the Christain vote and who they will vote for will be a decisve factor in the outcome of the election. The, Financial Times, reports today that,

....the Christian community may have emerged surprisingly strengthened from the Doha agreement....Most important, a new electoral law agreed in Doha could make the Christians kingmakers after next year's parliamentary elections....the Christian community will be up for grabs in the election....In any case, every election in Lebanon tends to create new alliances. Analysts say that if the Doha deal holds until next summer, groups that have been fighting each other may join forces to enhance their electoral chances.

It's to early to say for who will be on his/her list in Zgharta and the whether new alliances will be made to avoid a contentious election in Zgharta. Bloggers love to gossip to their own bloggersphere constituencies and forum posters to the converted.

No date has been announced for the 2009 General Election, but previous elections have been held in the months of May/June (2005); August/September (2000 & 1996). It may be held earlier in the year to ensure that Lebanon's summer tourism will not be adversly affected.

Throughout the lead up to the General Election, zgharta.com, will remain a impartial commentator, only reporting the facts. To ensure an informed debate concerning the lead up to the general election, zgharta.com, will endeavour to bring to its pages reports of informed opinion and research, which can be downloaded.

Go to the Full Story page for downloads.

We have created a Facebook, open group Zgharta: General Election 2009 for members to comment, debate and discuss the issues and manifesto's of those standing for election in Zgharta Zawie in the forthcoming election.


Full Story

We at zgharta.com do not enter into the realm of political commentary. But it would be silly to ignore the world of politics, indeed it would be a disservice to our readers, if we completely did. We believe our role, when it comes to politics, is to report only the facts, leaving others to comment and discuss. In any event our focus is on Zgharta Zawie and not the national scene.

This we did in reporting both the Local Election in 2004 and the General Election in 2005 and this is what we intend to do in respect of the General Election in 2009.

Recent events in Doha means that normal politics, albeit Lebanese style perhaps, resume this week and that the Caza will be facing a General Election next year.

The Doha Agreement reaffirms that the General Election will be held in 2009 and that there will be a new election law encompassing the provisions of the previous 1960 election law and those provisions made by the Report of National Commission on Electoral Law Reform, headed by former Minister Fouad Boutros, which Parliament may agree. The major change in 2009 will be the nature of the constituency, which will be based on the Caza. Which means in our case the Caza of Zgharta Zawie.

The Report (Article 30) recommends that Zgharta Zawie continues to elect three Maronite members of parliament. Since 1960, all constituencies, whatever their size and which have included Zgharta, have elected three members of parliament from Zgharta Zawie, notwithstanding the various election laws under which general elections have taken place.

The Members of Parliament since 1960 have been: 1960-1964 Sleiman Frangieh - René Mouawad - Youssef Karam; 1964-1968 Sleiman Frangieh - René Mouawad - Semaan Douayhi; 1968-1972 Sleiman Frangieh - René Mouawad - Semaan Douayhi; 1972 - 1991 Tony Frangieh (assassinated 1978) [his son, Sleiman Tony Frangieh was appointed in 1991]- René Mouawad (elected president and assassinated 1989) [his wife, Nayla René Mouawad was appointed in 1991] - Semaan Douayhi (died 1988) [his nephew, Stephane Douaihy appointed in 1991]; 1992 - 1996 Sleiman Tony Frangieh - Nayla René Mouawad - Stephane Douayhi ; 1996 - 2000 Sleiman Tony Frangieh - Nayla Mouawad - Stephane Douaihy; 2000- 2005 Sleiman Tony Frangieh - Nayla René Mouawad - Kaiser Mouawad; 2005 - 2009 - Nayla Rene Mouawad - Samir Hamid Frangieh - Jawad Simon Boulos.

What has to be decided are such issues raised by the Report as to whether Lebanese citizens living abroad can vote; whether the age of voting is brought down to 18; whether the general election is held on one day, in 2005 it was spread over over four Sundays, starting on 29th May (Beirut) to 19th June (North Lebanon); election funding and expenses.

The terms of the Doha Agreement and the Report of the National Commission on Electoral Law Reform, can be read on the Full Story page.
Full Story

The start of Lebanon's next General Election official preparations appear to have started.

The Lebanese newspaper, As Safir, reports that the General Directoriate of the Lebanese Ministry for the Interior and Municipalities has announced that the new electotal list of registered voters can be inspected for one month after 10th February 2008 at local Mokhtar's offices.

Subject to the present election laws for general elections being amended, the next General Election in Lebanon will be in May- June 2009. As the law stands at present, Zgharta Zawie forms part of the North Lebanon, 2nd Constituency, which consists of Tripoli, El Minieh , Batroum , Koura and Zgharta Zawie. The Ministry, in February 2005, issued a similar list of eligible registered voters, which showed for Zgharta Zawie that there were 67,056 registered voters. Of that number there were 19,739 registered voters for Zgharta and 47,317 for the other towns and villages of the area.

Our coverage of the 2005 General Election can be read from the News Digest Archive - General Election 2005