Pro-Syrian regime candidates running for Lebanon’s May 6 elections might secure 40 seats in the next Parliament, according to the counts of leading electoral campaigns.
Currently standing at 34 MPs, this number is expected to rise by 7 seats, mostly from Sunnis supported by the Shi’ite Hezbollah and Amal Movement in the Bekaa, north, south and Beirut electoral districts.
“This is very possible,” former MP Mustafa Alloush, a prominent leader in the Future Movement, told Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday.
Alloush said that the Syrian regime did not enlist the candidature of Baath party members as they may be counterproductive, and cannot constitute an electoral leverage if supported by Syria's Allies."
“Therefore, new faces were enlisted by the Syrian regime for the electoral race, either in public or behind the scenes. Based on the proportional representation in the new electoral law, those candidates have a chance to sneak into Parliament,” the MP said.
According to Alloush, there are rumors saying that following the elections, "pro-Syrian regime Sunni lawmakers from outside the Future Movement will meet in a bloc headed by former Prime Minister Najib Mikati."
“It would be a large Sunni list parallel to the Future Movement. This list would be used later to say that Hariri does not represent the Sunnis,” Alloush said.
However, sources close to Mikati denied Alloush’ accusations.
“Accusations marketed by the Future Movement are baseless and untrue. The Movement needs to determine its electoral identity due to its shifty alliances, which varies from one district to another,” the sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.
They also denied reports about Mikati’s willingness to form a parliamentary bloc parallel to the Future.
“Our aim is to reach Parliament with a firm bloc, which sets as its priority the benefit of Tripoli and the north,” the sources added.
