The citizens of Lebanon turned out in large numbers yesterday to vote in the country's parliament elections. News outlets this morning report that the pro-western alliance declared victory against the opposition led by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah and its allies. "I present this victory to Lebanon. It is an exceptional day for democracy in Lebanon," Prime Minister Fouad Siniora after polls predicted his pro-western coalition was winning. A close race was predicted in these elections between the two sides. In the previous parliament, the western-backed 14 March alliance, held a small majority of 70 seats in the parliament over the more extreme opposition involving pro-Syria and pro-Iranian forces, which held 58 seats. Tens of thousands of troops were deployed across polling stations as security was a high concern in the relatively unstable country. 3.2 million citizens out of a population of four million were eligible to vote, with the final results expected to be officially released this afternoon.
The declared victory by the pro-western alliance is a positive sign for Israel and especially the United States, where recently President Barack Obama has been laying out his vision for relations between his country and the Muslim world. A victory by Hezbollah, who is backed by Syria and Iran, would have resulted in international isolation of Beirut and the possibility of increased tensions with Israel. However, Hezbollah's defeat will not signal an end to its overwhelming power over the Lebanese political system. Despite being in opposition in recent years, Hezbollah succeeded in imposing its will and coercing the Lebanese government to agree to a series of concessions that solidified Hezbollah's dominance in some regions of the country, thanks to the support of its sponsor, Iran.
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