In Lebanon, buying votes to fight corruption

Every month, we feature a column by one of the personalities who take turns writing for Le Regard Libre. Freelance journalist Sophie Woeldgen shares her views as a reporter in the Middle East on an itchy subject.

On May 15, the Lebanese went to the polls for the first time since the economic and financial collapse and protest movement of 2019. Two years ago, these legislative elections were seen by many Lebanese as an opportunity to change the ruling political class, accused of corruption and incompetence. But the closer the deadline approached, the more hope faded.

More than a hundred lists campaigned, far more than in the last election in 2018. Many of them claimed to stand for «change». Among the n