Report: Hizbullah Has No Nominees for Beirut Municipal Polls as of Yet
Parties are gearing up for the municipal elections that are set to kick off on May 8 in the Bekaa Valley and Beirut, in light of reports alleging that Hizbullah has no nominees so far for the Shiite seats allocated in the capital's municipal council, al-Akhbar daily reported on Monday.
Reports said that leader of al-Mustaqbal Movement ex-PM Saad Hariri has voiced hopes on Hizbullah to keep unchanged the current Shiite municipal council members Khalil Choucair and Fadi Shahrour.
According to March 8 sources, Hizbullah has not nominated anyone for the municipal polls in Beirut nor has it declared its final stance on the issue.
Candidates have started setting lists to contend that of al-Mustaqbal Movement in the capital which has announced last week the official nomination of engineer Jamal Itani for the municipality's leadership without agreeing on the final council listing.
Hariri has put a list of names which he is planning to nominate for the Sunni seats in the municipal council, al-Akhbar daily reported.
However, the list has not been officially announced in light of some difficulties agreeing on the Christian names that should be nominated.
Beirut's 24-seat municipal council is split equally between Muslims and Christians.
The four-stage municipal elections will start in Beirut and Bekaa-al-Hermal districts on May 8, while the elections in Mount Lebanon will be held on May 15.
Elections in south Lebanon and Nabatieh are set for May 22 and north Lebanon and Akkar for May 29.
Two lists have emerged lately in Beirut to contend that of Hariri's.
A new secular group named Members of Citizens of which former Labor Minister Charbel Nahas is a member and the Beirut Madinati coalition.
D.A.
M.T.
Source: Naharnet
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