Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, August 2009, page 60

Waging Peace

MEI Holds Discussion on Lebanon’s Elections

	Dr. Graeme Bannerman talks about Lebanon’s elections (Staff photo Helen Goelet).

FOLLOWING the June 7 Lebanese parliamentary elections, the Middle East Institute on June 10 hosted an event to examine the results and the implications for Lebanon’s future. Dr. Graeme Bannerman, a National Democratic Institute election monitor, and Bilal Saab, an analyst at Brookings Institution, gave their views. Bannerman called the elections an historic moment for Lebanon and the Middle East. He noted that Lebanese enthusiasm and progress in election transparency was rooted in the fact the Lebanese all had entrenched interests in the election, deeply believing that the outcome would affect their daily lives. Hezbollah’s speedy acceptance of the outcome and praise for election transparency is indicative of the election’s legitimacy, Bannerman said.

Bilal Saab of Brookings considered the future for Lebanon by asking, what is next? How will Lebanon move forward with political stability and governmental politics? He discussed the likelihood that Hezbollah will insist upon upholding its veto powers in the new government—which would allow the group to influence issues of national importance—or entrust the president with these powers.

—Delinda Hanley

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