March 14 coalition retains majority after parliamentary elections
Opposition source concedes defeat, accepts ‘will of people’
By Mirella Hodeib
Daily Star staff
Monday, June 08, 2009
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s opposition conceded defeat against the March 14 coalition in pivotal polls Sunday after weeks of fierce campaigning. "We’ve lost the election," a senior opposition source, who declined to be identified, told Reuters. "We accept the result as the will of the people." "We’ll go back to the way we were," the source added.
The opposition source said the March 14 coalition is expected to ensure between 69 and 70 seats in the 128 parliament. The number matches figures predicted by the March 14 Forces.
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt on Sunday warned the March 14 Forces against "isolating the other party."
The 2009 electoral battle centered in Christian districts, since the results of almost 100 seats of the assembly were decided in advance.
As The Daily Star went to press, unofficial results showed the March 14 Forces won by a clean sweep the districts of Beirut I, Batroun, Koura, and Bsharreh, and Tripoli.
According to unofficial results, Prime Minster Fouad Siniora won a parliamentary seat in the coastal city of Sidon.
Preliminary results also showed the March 14 Forces as having a chance to win the Bekaa town of Zahle’s seven seats.
According to unofficial results, the Free Patriotic Movement won all seats in the districts of Kesrouan, Jbeil, Baabda and Jezzine.
The results of another decisive district, Metn were still unclear at dawn on Sunday.