Naharnet – Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan on
Monday accused some political parties of “hiding” behind the banner of
the civil society in a bid to oust his major influence in the Choueifat
area where municipal polls were held on Sunday.

“I wish our list won all the seats but this is what
happens in elections. Sometimes there is no full victory or a full
loss,” said Arslan at a press conference, referring to the fact that the
rival list managed to clinch three seats on the municipal council. The list backed by Arslan won the other fifteen seats.

“We regret that the new municipal council will not include any representative of Khalde’s Arab tribes,” Arslan added.

“Yesterday’s polls proved that the civil society’s
political weight is exaggerated and that some political parties used the
civil society banner to deceive the public opinion,” the Druze leader
said.

According to media reports, the rival list comprised
civil society figures and others backed by the Progressive Socialist
Party and the Lebanese Communist Party.

“The three members who won from the rival list are one
backed by the Communist Party, a PSP member and a third who is close to
us, so where is the civil society?” Arslan asked.

Mount Lebanon witnessed on Sunday the second round of
municipal elections that had kicked off in Beirut and the Bekaa region
on May 8.

The next round of the elections will be held in the
South and Nabatiyeh on May 22 and the final round will be held in the
North and Akkar on May 29.

Y.R.

M.T.