Lebanon to Hold First Municipal Elections Since 2016 Amid Crippling Crises

For the first time since 2016, Lebanon is heading back to the polls for long-overdue municipal and local elections—a significant political milestone after three years of postponements caused by the country’s deepening financial collapse, political paralysis, and security threats.

The elections are scheduled to take place in stages throughout May, beginning in Mount Lebanon, followed by the North, Akkar, Beirut, the Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel, and concluding in the South and Nabatieh on May 24. More than 1,050 municipalities across all governorates are expected to participate.

This return to the ballot box comes at a time when Lebanon continues to reel from overlapping crises: an unprecedented economic meltdown, severe institutional dysfunction, and escalating regional tensions. Despite these challenges—including over 3,000 reported Israeli strikes in the past six months targeting Beirut, Mount Lebanon, the Bekaa, and southern areas—the Lebanese government has resolved to proceed with the elections, viewing them as a necessary step toward restoring constitutional order and institutional credibility.

While the political landscape remains largely stagnant, the decision to move forward with elections signals an effort to revive local governance and break the administrative deadlock that has left several municipalities without leadership. The elections are also part of Lebanon’s broader commitments to political and administrative reform.

A recent report titled “Starting in Mount Lebanon… Beirut Prepares for First Municipal Elections in 9 Years” highlighted nationwide preparations and the logistical challenges of organizing the vote. Many observers see the elections as a litmus test for the state's capacity to manage democratic processes, especially with parliamentary elections scheduled for next year.

Early estimates suggest that some races, particularly in the South and northern Bekaa, may be decided by acclamation due to political consensus or lack of opposition. However, competitive contests are expected in politically contested areas—especially between the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement—underscoring the elections' potential to reshape local power dynamics.