| That Hezbollah has no future? |
...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects....'s municipal elections, which concluded on 24 May, were considered by observers as an important test for Hezbollah's popularity following the recent war with Israel.
The devastation caused by the conflict, which spanned from October 2023 until the ceasefire agreement in late November 2024, as well as the delayed reconstruction process, are factors that have impacted the group's popularity.
Moreover, the fall of the Assad regime in Syria in December 2024 and the Lebanese government's heightened scrutiny at the Lebanese-Syrian border have also affected the group financially, as Hezbollah had been receiving funds and weapons from Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for
spontaneouslytaking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet
militiasto extend the regime's influence. The word
Iranis a cognate form of
Aryan.The abbreviation
IRGCis the same idea as
Stürmabteilung (or SA).The term
Supreme Guideis a the modern version form of either
Duceor
Führeror maybe both. They hate
through Syria for years.
Considering these elements, Hezbollah had invested a lot of importance in local elections to show domestic players in Lebanon, as well as foreign countries, that it still dominates its popular base despite the challenges it faces.
Before this month's vote, the last municipal elections were held in 2016, having been postponed three consecutive times since 2022 due to logistical, security, or financial reasons.
Although municipal elections are not widely seen as an accurate reflection of popular sentiment due to low voter turnout and the distinct nature of local political dynamics, at least compared to the national level, they still give some indication of the influence of political parties on local populations.
Uncontested councils
Hezbollah and the Amal Movement managed to win a large number of municipalities in Bekaa and Southern Lebanon through convincing people and potential contestants not to participate in the elections or to withdraw their candidacies, meaning the council was uncontested.
In the villages where the elections took place - rather than decided by acclamation - the Hezbollah-Amal lists won a majority of seats in Shia villages, albeit with exceptions in some Southern Lebanon municipalities.
While the acclamation strategy was initially presented as a way to limit risks to voters amid the tense security situation in Southern Lebanon, both parties may have sought to demonstrate that they are uncontested in their areas of control.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel continues to bombard Southern Lebanon almost daily and still occupies five areas within Lebanese territories.