Independent candidates won nine of the 29 student council seats at the Lebanese-American University in Beirut, down from 14 last year, amid low voter turnout after supporters of Hezbollah boycotted elections.
Union and university elections in Lebanon are seen as a barometer of the political mood in the country. The student elections this year are particularly significant as they come months ahead of general election in which independent candidates hope to make significant gains against an entrenched political class.
When independents snatched nearly half of the LAU student council seats last year, their victory was seen as heralding an era of hope for young people in a country marred by sectarian politics and an economic crisis.
Their achievement was bolstered by a wave of mass protests last October, demanding the fall of the ruling elite, better lives and an end to widespread corruption.
Soon after, independent groups won a majority of student council seats at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon’s most prestigious, and made sizeable gains in campuses across the country.
Tamara Nasr, who was elected to the LAU council as an independent in the online vote on Friday, blamed the boycott and smear campaigns for the poor performance by independents this year.
Less than half of LAU students voted amid the boycott.
“Traditional political parties tried to sabotage the candidates and this harmed voter turnout,” she said.
“There were a lot of rumours about us, that we are not really secular or independent, that we are actually Aounists or affiliated to other parties,” she said, referring to supporters of Lebanese President Michel Aoun.
No united front
An expert and students blamed the results on pushback from Hezbollah, the lack of a united front among independent groups – issues that opposition groups have long suffered from – and voter fatigue caused by the country's economic crisis.
Student activist Jana Massoud, of the Minteshreen party, said LAU independents and the university’s Secular Club should have united instead of competing against each other.
“This is the only way to gain people’s confidence and show them they are serious, not just in universities but in politics,” she said. “The opposition must unite.”
Ms Massoud blamed Hezbollah’s boycott campaign for demoralising students into abstention.
“They told students there is nothing you can do anyway, why vote?” she said.
The Iran-backed party wields great influence in Lebanon and is a key player in the country’s sectarian political system.
Hezbollah supporters at the university said the boycott was directed against online voting, which they considered to be silencing their voices. They held protests in front of the university gate with banners that described the election as a “play” and a sham.
Imad Salamey, who teaches political science at LAU, said most political parties, including Hezbollah, opposed online voting because it denied them the direct supervision of voters.
But independents still secured nearly a third of seats, reflecting a wider desire for change among young Lebanese, he said.
Mr Salamey said the drop could be attributed to a “decline of enthusiasm” since mass protests against the political system began in October 2019.
These elections are a first step to saying: yes we do have a say in this country.
Tamara Nasr,
LAU student representative
“At first people thought they could make massive changes fast, but now they are recognising it may need more time,” he said.
While the results reflected public support for political alternatives, change, if any, will be even more difficult to achieve at a national level, Mr Salamey said.
Parliamentary elections in Lebanon are based on sectarian quotas that favour traditional parties.
“It would be much harder for independent voices to win seats in parliament the way those at LAU won seats,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Ms Nasr said she was hopeful that young people can lead change in the country.
“These elections are a first step to saying: yes we do have a say in this country,” she said. "We want the opportunity to build a future when everybody is leaving, trying to find a way out of this country.”
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Black Panther
Dir: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Five stars
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
MORE ON INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE
CABINET%20OF%20CURIOSITIES%20EPISODE%201%3A%20LOT%2036
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGuillermo%20del%20Toro%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tim%20Blake%20Nelson%2C%20Sebastian%20Roche%2C%20Elpidia%20Carrillo%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20end%20of%20Summer
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Salha%20Al%20Busaidy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20316%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPublisher%3A%20The%20Dreamwork%20Collective%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
