Naharnet, The Interior Ministry announced Monday that the
candidate for the vacant parliamentary seat in Jezzine, Amal Abou Zeid,
has won the by-electionsAbou Zeid, fielded by the Free Patriotic Movement, was
elected for the seat that was left vacant after the death of Change and
Reform local MP Michel Helou.

He was facing other candidates running for the post. Abou Zeid garnered 14,653 votes, Ibrahim Azar 7,759,
Salah Nicolas Jebran 3,162, and Patrick Rizkallah 399, said a ministry
statement.

The parliamentary by-elections were held on Sunday in
Jezzine in parallel with municipal and mayoral elections in the district
and entire South Lebanon. Abou Zeid was nominated by the FPM and enjoyed key
support from the Lebanese Forces, which was allied with the FPM in the
municipal polls. His main competitor was Azar, the son of ex-MP Samir
Azar who is close to Speaker Nabih Berri. Azar, who enjoyed the support
of some families, was expected to garner votes from Berri’s AMAL
Movement, although it did not officially endorse him.

D.A.