Start of new era for Lebanon?

Today, after 30 years of Syrian interference, the Lebanese held their first elections for parliament seats. The turn out was very low with only 28% turnout in Beirut. Elections will continue each Sunday through June 19. Why was the turnout so low in this first? Many speculate that it is because Saad al-Hariri's anti-Syrian bloc had already won 9 unopposed seats and that the bloc was sure to win the other 10, which they did. Michael Aoun had also called on a boycott to the elections. The coalition is expected to do well in other sections of the country. In an interview al-Hariri stated that there was a 50-50 chance of him becoming prime minister.

Saad al-Hariri is a Saudi business man (he says where he was "born and bred") whose family still lives in Saudi Arabia. He graduated from Georgetown University.

My hope is that al-Hariri's "born and bred" background from Saudi Arabia does not include Wahabbism in Lebanon's future.



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