Citizens differ on whether vote will bring change

Beirut: As the country prepares to go to the polls, Nabih Najdi, a resident of Tyre, says he would prefer to stay away from the elections. "However, if I were to vote, I would vote blank. I support Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement which is allied with Hezbollah. They may not be perfect but they are the best available or at least we have not tried them in power."

Asked if the elections will change anything in Lebanon, he said: "On a strategic level nothing will change. If March 14 attains a majority, which is impossible, Hezbollah will still retain its power since it has the weapons on the ground ..."

As a citizen, he said he would like to see the government reform laws, practices, reduce money losses, and increase investment in Lebanon.

Unlike Najdi, Dalia Gawi, a Beirut resident, says: "I'm heading to the polls early to vote for March 14 because I feel they represent me. They have been working continuously on ensuring Lebanon's sovereignty and independence and I feel they would be able to best govern the country."

Jad Salman, from Aley, Mount Lebanon, says he will vote for whoever has a reform plan. "I am not politically affiliated because politics keeps changing."

Christopher Assio from Metn believes that these elections can bring change. "This is the first time we Lebanese, and especially Christians, have a relatively good electoral law ... Problems that need to be addressed are many, primarily the economy, adjustments to the Taef Accord, ending and forcing accountability."

Hussain Makki, a resident of the UAE, said, "I'm not going to Lebanon because I'm abstaining from voting. I'm not expecting any major surprising changes or improvements."

On Lebanon's biggest problems, he said: "My daily concern revolves around one question: 'When can I go back and settle in Lebanon?' It's a shame that this wonderful country which has the best educational institutions in the region loses thousands of youngsters annually."

- Maysam Ali is a freelance journalist based in Beirut.