From: ccav38@ccsun.strath.ac.uk ("I.Ballouz")
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Elections end with sweeping victory for pro-Syrian candidates
Date: 13 Sep 92 18:12:55 GMT
Organization: University of Strathclyde

In article <BuIto7.L0u@ecf.toronto.edu> hyper@ecf.toronto.edu (Hypersonic CFD Combust Diag) writes:
>In article <1992Sep13.104137.12638@ccsun.strath.ac.uk> ccav38@ccsun.strath.ac.uk ("I.Ballouz") writes:
>>In article <BuHKMI.CrI@ecf.toronto.edu> hyper@ecf.toronto.edu (Hypersonic CFD Combust Diag) writes:
>>>
>>
>>  Stuff deleted
>>
>
>It is true what you said about Saida needing two sunni MP's and your analysis
>of them was correct.  But by making The south and the Nabatiye provinces one 
>electoral district gave say to the rest of the south on who will become an MP 
>for any other region and "Qada'" in the south, including Saida.
>
>so, saying that Bahiya Hariri ran against those on Berri's list, then if
>Berri's supporters and their allies (other old enemies on his list)
>congregate against her, she would only get those very few votes; possibly only 
>those of the sunnis of Saida and a few other shiit votes, since Berri
>and the other two sunni candidates (for Saida) on his list would heavily
>campaign for their own list...and as it was proven, Berri had a big say
>in directing the shiit votes in the south. 
>
>Berri knew that Hariri was the strongest candidate in Saida and she was on 
>his list (so did the other two candidates in Saida), and knowing that by 
>adding a second candidate to his list he would have decided the Battle
>for Saida, he chose to leave that seat open. And his list only had
>22 candidates.  
>
>In conclusion, eventhough she was running just for Saida she still needed
>the votes of the rest of the south...meaning, the votes of Berri's list
>supporters. In the new system, any lebanese citizen from the south could have
>cast their vote for any of the 23 candidates, and all 23 candidates at the same
>time (the south and Nabatiye are  representeed by 23 MPs). I hope this clarifies
> some of the ambiguities.

stuff deleted.

>Samir.
> 
You had certainly explained something that I had a vague idea about,Thanks.
However, what you did not explain or mention is the matter of TACTICAL voting.
Does the current system allow or not I am not totally sure but I think you can
still vote in this fashion.

What I mean is supposing that Ms Hariri was running as an independent & Mr Berri
has a less known candidate for Saida's seat, here don't you think that the 
people can still vote for Mr Berri (since he has such a popularity) while 
dropping the name of the Sunni candidate from his list...?
This way the people allow Mr Berri to win and at the same time Ms Hariri wins
too eventhough she's on his list because she enjoys the support of the majority
in Saida and the support of many of the Shia who beleive that she's suitable. 

I think you still can vote in this manner unless our system does not allow you
to drop some names from the list you're voting for?

If this is possible, Ms Hariri would still be elected without the help of Mr
Berri because the electors would still be able to chose the best candidate
(even in indirect way).

Here, is it wise for Mr Berri & Ms Harri not to be in the same list?
I think not. It would imply that they oppose each other and I don't think they
both wanted to give to the electors that impression.

At the end, it was good for both and not a favour from one to another.

Please correct me if I'm wrong in my assumption because I'd like to know.

Ibrahim.
-- 
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* IBRAHIM BALLOUZ            **           DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE          *
* ccav38@uk.ac.strath.ccsun  **  STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY GLASGOW SCOTLAND U.K. *
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