Voting briefly suspended after dispute at polling station in Kfeir–Hasbaiyya (Video)
The incident occurred after one of the polling agents was expelled from the polling station for committing violations.
According to LADE, the altercation led to a brief suspension of the voting process. However, security forces quickly intervened to restore order, allowing the electoral process to resume at the center.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


LBCI
17 hours ago
- LBCI
MP George Bouchikian denies fleeing Lebanon ahead of immunity lift request
Lebanese MP George Bouchikian on Monday denied media reports suggesting he left the country to avoid legal prosecution, saying his recent departure was a long-planned personal trip and that no legal action had been initiated against him at the time. In a statement issued from abroad, Bouchikian said he left Lebanon on July 7 for a family trip that had been arranged months in advance. 'At the time of my departure, no decision had been issued to pursue legal action against me, nor was there any formal request to lift my parliamentary immunity,' he said. 'The General Security's travel records clearly confirm my departure date and the purpose behind it.' The request to lift Bouchikian's immunity, submitted by Lebanon's public prosecutor, was dated July 9—two days after he had already left the country. 'This completely discredits claims that I left to evade accountability,' he added. Bouchikian reaffirmed his willingness to cooperate with judicial authorities. 'I am fully prepared to respond to any competent legal body, in the appropriate place and time, in full respect of the constitutional process and transparency,' he said. The MP also noted that his legal team took immediate action upon being notified of the request to lift his immunity. Formal submissions were filed to the Speaker of Parliament, the Parliament Bureau, and the Administration and Justice Committee. 'A detailed legal memorandum was also submitted, laying out factual, legal, and constitutional arguments in response to the request,' he said, adding that the document is now in the hands of lawmakers ahead of the parliamentary session scheduled for July 23. Bouchikian expressed confidence in Parliament's ability to handle the case fairly. 'I trust that MPs will address this matter objectively and without influence from media pressure or populist narratives,' he said. 'No one is above accountability, and no one should be denied legal protection,' he concluded. 'Justice cannot be achieved through double standards.'


LBCI
18 hours ago
- LBCI
Lebanese Forces reject sectarian accusations, reaffirm commitment to national unity
In a statement released on Monday, the Lebanese Forces' media office emphasized that the party's stance toward all Lebanese sects is well-known and clear, based on 'full respect and equal citizenship,' reflecting its commitment to the Lebanese idea and its defense of it. 'This conviction is reflected in two directions,' the statement read. 'First, in a national discourse that transcends all sects; and second, in the membership of citizens from all sects—particularly the Sunni community—within the Lebanese Forces, in addition to the strong relationships the party maintains with Sunni, Druze, and Shiite leaders, except for those who are not only in ideological opposition to the LF, but to the very concept of Lebanon.' The party expressed regret over what it called 'malicious attempts' by some parties to sow division and constantly target the LF, blaming it for irresponsible statements 'that do not reflect the party's values, principles, or rhetoric, even if such statements come from individuals close to the LF.' It concluded by affirming that 'the only official representatives of the Lebanese Forces are its president, executive body, parliamentary bloc, media office, and statements issued by the party's authorized institutions. Any other statements, regardless of the speaker's proximity to the party, do not represent the LF.'


LBCI
18 hours ago
- LBCI
Speaker Berri convenes joint parliamentary meeting to address lifting immunity from MP Bouchikian and launch telecom probe
Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri chaired a joint meeting on Monday in Ain al-Tineh between the Parliament Bureau and the Parliamentary Administration and Justice Committee. Following the meeting, Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab announced that the session, called for by Speaker Berri, was held to review a request submitted to Parliament regarding the lifting of immunity from MP George Bouchikian. He stated that at the beginning of the session, discussions also addressed a related matter that had been previously addressed by the same joint committee, nearly two years ago—specifically, the formation of a parliamentary inquiry committee into the Telecommunications Ministry. Bou Saab revealed that both cases were deemed similar, and a plenary session was scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, at 11:00 a.m. to deliberate on both items. Speaker Berri reportedly emphasized the urgency of moving forward with these matters, noting that the delay over the past two years was mainly due to the exceptional political conditions at the time, including the absence of a president and a non-functioning legislature. Bou Saab explained that the first case involves establishing a parliamentary inquiry committee to investigate the Ministry of Telecommunications. The second concerns the request to lift immunity from MP Bouchikian. 'It will be up to the general assembly to make the final decision on both,' he said. He stressed that no accusations were being made and that the committee's role was purely procedural. 'We are not accusing anyone. The report submitted was purely technical, focusing on how to apply parliamentary rules and the law without any external pressure,' he said. 'The investigation must determine whether the issue is related to the MP's role as a legislator, in which case immunity applies, or whether it pertains to actions taken in a ministerial capacity, in which case the judiciary would decide how to proceed.' Bou Saab reiterated the presumption of innocence, stating, 'Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. The procedure is clear: the request will be presented to the general assembly, and if the body decides to form an inquiry committee, it will vote to appoint its members.' Regarding the telecom case, he said the three former telecommunications ministers involved—Nicolas Sehnaoui, Boutros Harb, and Jamal Jarrah—had been notified of the matter over two years ago and had the right to attend the session or send legal representatives to present their defense. As for Bouchikian, the same process applies. 'He, too, has the right to defend himself and present his version of events,' Bou Saab said. He added that if the assembly approves the formation of the inquiry committee, its work will be conducted confidentially until its findings are finalized. When asked about rumors of Bouchikian's travel abroad, Bou Saab said, 'I will not comment on media reports. We have no official information about his whereabouts. What's important is that we took the step of referring the matter to the general assembly, which will vote on whether to lift his immunity. The vote will be secret, but the result will be made public.'