Lebanon
Riz Khan

Lebanon’s election

If the Hezbollah-led opposition wins, what will this mean for the country?

Watch part two 

Deeply divided along familial and sectarian lines, political allegiances change frequently in Lebanon, leaving this election much too close to call.

However, many analysts believe that the Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance may be poised to win a slight parliamentary majority – a result that would almost certainly mean an end to US military support and other forms of Western aid.

To counter an international backlash, Hezbollah has floated the idea of a unity government – including Saad al-Hariri, the leader of the Western-leaning March 14 coalition, as prime minister.

But al-Hariri flatly rejects the notion of a unity government, saying that he will not be a front for a Hezbollah-led government.


On Tuesday’s Riz Khan we speak to Ibrahim Moussawi, a close advisor to Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, and editor of the Hezbollah newspaper Al-Inteqaad.

Also joining the programme from Lebanon is Richard Koyomjian, a spokesperson for the Lebanese Forces electoral campaign, which is part of the March 14 alliance.

We ask: How will the election impact unity and stability in Lebanon?

This episode of the Riz Khan show aired on Tuesday, June 2, 2009.