CCDH President in Lebanon for Election Observation

The CCDH President, Mr. Ahmed Herzenni, participated as a member of the international delegation in the observation of the Lebanese legislative elections, staged on June 7, 2009.

These elections drew the attention of the international community and the mass media as it saw an unprecedented contest between the Lebanese political parties. Given the sensitivity and importance of these elections, many regional and international bodies concerned with Lebanese affairs dispatched observers to monitor the election process.

These include the delegation of the European Union, headed by the European MP, Jose Ignacio Salafranco and composed of 60 observers and 23 states, the delegation of the Carter Center, headed by the US former president, Jimmy Carter and the Yemeni former prime minister, Abdel karim al Ariani, the delegation of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), composed of 52 observers and 22 states, including the CCDH President, Mr. Ahmed Herzenni.

According to the website of the Lebanese Ministry of Interior, the European delegation head said that the Lebanese elections were conducted between two blocks in a peaceful atmosphere in general and in a legal framework better than the former one. However, more reforms are still needed. Peace and stability prevailed on the polling day and the turnout was high. The high participation of the observers contributed to strengthening transparency.

According to the National Democratic Institute (NDI), “the outcome in some districts was pre-determined by political deals among contestants, but the enthusiasm and voter turnout on election day demonstrated that there is significant political competition and that voters regard the parliamentary elections as an opportunity to shape their country’s future. The NDI said that although there were some irregularities, “Lebanon’s June 7 election was fundamentally peaceful and well administered and should provide the basis for confidence in the electoral process”.

The Carter Center “commends the Lebanese people and the electoral authorities for the successful conduct of the 2009 parliamentary elections, the results of which have been accepted by both sides. While the process fell short of several of Lebanon's international commitments, most notably secrecy of the ballot, it was conducted with enhanced transparency and in accordance with Lebanon's new consensual electoral law and regulations.”

The official results, declared by the Lebanese Minister of Interior, showed that the majority group, led by Saad Hariri, got 71 seats against 57 for the opposition alliance.