On May 15, parliamentary elections will take place nationwide in Lebanon. The Lebanese diaspora, estimated to be double the size of the domestic population, already cast their ballots last week. Around 60 percent of people across 58 countries turned out, slightly more than in 2018. We bring you a special edition of Middle East Matters on Lebanon's first elections since the mass protests of 2019.
This year's vote is the first time the Lebanese people will get to have their say after 2019's failed mass protest movement, the Covid-19 pandemic and 2020's devastating Beirut port blast. The crises have been exacerbated by a crippling economic crisis, which is approaching its third year with no end in sight.
To understand what's at stake in this year's elections, we speak to Diana Menhem, the managing director of Kulluna Irada, an advocacy group for political reform funded by Lebanese citizens.
Plus, our correspondent Sally Farhat reports from Beirut on the female candidates trying to make a difference in Lebanese politics. This year, 118 women are running against 600 men. Lebanon currently ranks among the lowest countries worldwide when it comes to female representation in parliament.
