Lebanon's voters go to the polls tomorrow in six northern and mountain districts in the first round of parliamentary elections. The second round, in Beirut and the south, is scheduled for September 3rd. This is the third general election since the 16-year civil war ended in 1991.
Many of the 1.45 million registered voters will travel to their native villages to cast their ballots for candidates for the 128-seat chamber of deputies, which is divided equally between Christians and Muslims and provides representation for most of Lebanon's 18 sects.
The majority of candidates are placed on 30-odd lists headed by leading local figures although independents also stand. Three right-wing Maronite Catholic parties have called for a boycott, claiming that the result has been rigged by Syria which maintains 30,000 troops in Lebanon and plays a major role on the political scene.
In recent months calls for withdrawal have intensified but the government argues that the Syrian forces provide stability. The rejectionists have not, however, managed to dissuade moderate Maronites from contesting seats, even in the communal heartland of Mount Lebanon.
Personalities and big money rather than issues dominated the campaign. It is estimated that the former Prime Minister, Mr Rafiq Hariri, a multi-billionaire, spent $50 million, half the amount in the campaign chest of the US presidential candidate, Mr George W. Bush.
Mr Hariri's bitter rival, the incumbent, Dr Selim Hoss, a former university professor, could not match this sum or the $35 million spent by other candidates. The government has employed the state-run media to compensate for Mr Hariri's use of his television stations and newspapers.
As polling day approached Dr Hoss's camp stepped up criticism of Mr Hariri who ran up a foreign debt of more than $20 billion by spending on grandiose reconstruction projects.
Until he went over to the offensive Dr Hoss, who has failed to implement bold reforms, had been blamed for the country's severe economic woes. The choice, said an informant, is between ruin under the timid Dr Hoss and catastrophe under the free spending Mr Hariri.
Damascus has had to adopt a neutral stance as between Dr Hoss and Mr Hariri because both men take a pro-Syrian line. Since few politicians adopt anti-Syrian positions, it is expected that the new parliament will be as pro-Damascus as the last two.