Hizballah loses, Wilders gains.
A dramatic reversal of fortune, and a setback for the Syrian/Iranian jihad in Lebanon. “Lebanon’s ruling coalition claims election victory over Hezbollah,” by Hugh Macleod in The Guardian, June 8:
Jubilant supporters of Lebanon’s US-backed ruling coalition took to the streets last night, claiming a decisive election victory. It marks a dramatic reversal of fortunes after polls showed it losing its slim majority to a Hezbollah-led coalition backed by Syria and Iran.
Fireworks streamed from the Beirut home of Saad Hariri, leader of the governing coalition and the top Sunni politician who is now expected to become prime minister. The post was held five times by his father, whose assassination in 2005 triggered a prolonged crisis.
“We extend our hand to work together seriously and in earnest for the sake of Lebanon “¦ to build a strong and sovereign state,” Hariri told supporters in the early hours of the morning. “Long live democracy.”
Appearing to concede defeat, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah told the Hezbollah-run Al Manar television: “Whatever the results are, it won’t change the sensitive equilibrium. Lebanon’s only choice is consensus.”
Official results will be announced early today, but supporters of the ruling coalition, known as March 14, last night began the celebrations on the streets of Beirut, blaring car horns and flying party colours. Local media reported that with 80% of the votes counted, March 14 — which won elections in 2005 by opposing Syria, which they blame for Rafik Hariri’s assassination — had a slim lead over the Syrian-backed opposition….
And Geert Wilders’s party, venomously portrayed (as usual) in this AP story, gains seats in the European Parliament: “Poll: Right-wing party second in Dutch Euro vote,” by Mike Corder for the Associated Press, June 4:
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A right-wing, stridently anti-Islam Dutch lawmaker’s party won more than 15 percent of votes in the country’s European Parliament elections Thursday, according to the national broadcaster’s exit poll.
The NOS poll predicted the Freedom Party of Geert Wilders will win four of the 25 Dutch seats in the European assembly, one behind the Christian Democrats of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende….
“Turkey as (an) Islamic country should never be in the EU, not in 10 years, not in a million years,” Wilders said after voting.
But Dutch IT manager Olivier van der Post, 40, rejected Wilders’ vision.
“I didn’t vote for Wilders … History has shown that if you want prosperity you must open your borders, not close them,” he said after voting in Voorburg, a leafy village on the outskirts of The Hague….
History also shows that being conquered and Islamized are not paths to prosperity.