The announcement of the municipal elections results in the north zone ended the election season, which lasted almost an entire month. The Beirutis’ List, supported by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, has dominated the capitale’s elections despite a strong opposition by Beirut Madinati, according to the official final results showed on Tuesday.  As for the North of the country, an underdog list backed by emerging Sunni politician Ashraf Rifi won a majority of seats on the council elected in Tripoli, Lebanon’s second largest city, against a coalition of former prime ministers, billionaires and Islamists. This election involved alliances, results, and repercussions on the political stage. It has marked a blow for the lebanese establishment, in particular the long in power Sunni leaders in the northern part. It might revive tensions between rival sectarian groups. Early results indicated that none of the 24 seats on the council were won by members of the Christian or Alawite communities which were both represented in the outgoing council.

The political crisis in the country has twice forced the postponement of parliamentary elections that should have been held in 2013, and deprived the nation of a president for the passed two years. But for the first time in Lebanon, candidates coming from civil society are gathered on an independant list for municipal elections. It carries hope for the lebanese democracy.

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