“In-kind and material” bribery worries the opposition candidates
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has gathered his two opposing allies, Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh and Free Patriotic Movement head MP Gibran Bassil, in an attempt to “arrange relations between allies” and “reduce the ceiling” of disparities, in preparation for keeping pace with the next stage. In the parliamentary elections and beyond.
There was information that Nasrallah has been seeking for some time to gather his allies, as part of efforts to narrow the areas of difference between all his allies and bring their views closer. Qassem Kassir, a political researcher who follows Hezbollah files, said that the meeting between the three parties “is a meeting following the elections,” as “the party wants to organize the ranks of its allies for that next stage, and thus forms an organized coalition that can manage matters and files in the post-election stage.” .
In the meantime, warnings have recently mounted of an unprecedented increase in electoral bribery, as a result of the worsening economic conditions, with the approaching parliamentary elections.
Human rights associations in Lebanon documented the spread of vote-buying, which falls under the framework of “in-kind and cash aid”, which increased in abundance on all Lebanese territories ahead of the 2022 elections. Win by offering loyalty and gratitude via the polls.
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