[[File:Bekaa I Electoral district (2017 Vote Law) - Red.png|thumb|Bekaa I electoral district, covering the [[Zahle District]]]] '''Bekaa I''' ({{langx|ar|دائرة البقاع الاولى}}) is an electoral district in [[Lebanon]], as per the 2017 vote law. The district elects 2 [[Greek Catholic]] parliamentarians, 1 [[Maronite]], 1 [[Greek Orthodox]], 1 [[Armenian Orthodox]], 1 [[Shia]] and 1 [[Sunni]]. The electoral district covers the ''[[Districts of Lebanon|qada]]'' of [[Zahle District|Zahle]].<ref name=kas>Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. ''[http://www.kas.de/wf/doc/kas_52190-544-1-30.pdf?180420165540 Political Party Mapping in Lebanon Ahead of the 2018 Elections] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506173648/http://www.kas.de/wf/doc/kas_52190-544-1-30.pdf?180420165540 |date=2018-05-06 }}''</ref> The electoral district retained the geographic boundaries and seat allocation of the Zahle electoral district from the previous electoral law.<ref name=kas/><ref name="a">IFES. ''[http://www.ifes.org/Content/Publications/White-Papers/2011/Electoral-Districts-in-Lebanon.aspx Electoral Districts in Lebanon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407084421/http://ifes.org/Content/Publications/White-Papers/2011/Electoral-Districts-in-Lebanon.aspx |date=2015-04-07 }}''</ref>
==Electorate== The electorate in the first Bekaa electoral district is predominately Christian.<ref name=bekaaI3>[https://www.annahar.com/elections/district/4/%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%D9%89 دائرة البقاع الاولى] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519204814/https://www.annahar.com/elections/district/4/%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%D9%89 |date=2018-05-19 }}. ''Annahar''</ref> Ahead of the 2018 elections, electoral district had 172,555 registered voters; 48,867 Sunni (28.32%), 27,538 Shia (15.96%), 906 Druze (0.53%), 32,295 Greek Catholic (18.72%), 27,049 Maronite (15.68%), 16,470 Greek Orthodox (9.54%), 8,604 Armenian Orthodox (4.99%), 6,646 Syriac Orthodox and Syriac Catholic (3.85%), 1,846 Armenian Catholic (1.07%), 1,349 Evangelical (0.78%) and 985 from other sects (0.57%).<ref name=kas/>
==Political dynamics== Local politics in Zahle was for long been dominated by the Skaff clan, ever since the French Mandate administration chose to benefit the family in order to counter the influence of other local elites.<ref>''Le Monde''. ''[http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/article/2009/06/03/elias-skaff-baron-chretien-de-la-bekaa-au-service-de-l-opposition-libanaise_1201689_3218.html Elias Skaff, baron chrétien de la Békaa au service de l'opposition libanaise]''</ref> But the election of Zahle politician [[Elias Hrawi]] as President of Lebanon challenged the position of the [[Skaff Bloc|Skaff bloc]] leader [[Elias Skaff|Elias J. Skaff]]. In the 1990s pro-Syrian forces opted to rally behind the city mayor and lawyer Nicolas Fattouch, creating an alternative bloc of political power.<ref name="MermierMervin2012">{{cite book|author1=Franck Mermier|author2=Sabrina Mervin|title=Leaders et partisans au Liban|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2aF6PSJLs_sC&pg=PA451|year=2012|publisher=KARTHALA Editions|isbn=978-2-8111-0595-2|page=451}}</ref> During the elections of 1992, 1996 and 2000 the influence of the Skaff family gradually declined.<ref name="MermierMervin2012"/>
==2009 election== Ahead of the [[2009 Lebanese general election]] the Zahle electoral district had 158,005 registered voters.<ref name="a"/> The voter turnout stood at 91,848 (58.12%), above the national average of 50.7%.<ref name="a"/> Two main lists crystalized; a joint list of Fattouch, the [[Future Movement]], the [[Lebanese Forces]] and the [[Kataeb Party]], and the Skaff-aligned Popular Bloc list supported by [[Hezbollah]] and the [[Free Patriotic Movement]].<ref name=kas/> The Fattouch-led list won, receiving an average 48,688 votes for their candidates, while the Skaff-led list finished in second place with an average vote for its candidates at 41,380.<ref name=kas/> The elected MPs from the Fattouch list were [[Elie Maroni]] of the Kataeb Party (Maronite, 49,328 votes), [[Okab Sakr]] (Shia, 49,238 votes), [[Shant Janjanian]] (Armenian Orthodox, 48,527 votes), [[Asim Araji]] (Sunni, 48,524 votes), [[Joseph Maalouf]] (Greek Orthodox, 48,288 votes), [[Tony Abou Khater]] (Greek Catholic, 47,999 votes) and [[Nicolas Fattouch]] (Greek Catholic, 47,709 votes). The most voted candidate on the other list was Elias J. Skaff, with 42,975 votes.<ref name="a"/>
==2018 election== {{See also|2018 Lebanese general election in Bekaa I}} 5 lists were registered in the electoral district for the [[2018 Lebanese general election]].<ref name=akh>[https://al-akhbar.com/Politics/247092 77 لائحة تُقصي 334 مرشحاً: لبنان إلى الانتخابات] ''Al-Akhbar''</ref> An alliance of [[Free Patriotic Movement]], [[Future Movement]], Tashnaq and independents was announced with the candidature name "Zahle for All".<ref name=saida2>[https://www.annahar.com/article/780948-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AD-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B5%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7--%D8%AC%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%B9%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B1 اعلان لوائح في صيدا - جزين وزحلة وعكار] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327144848/https://www.annahar.com/article/780948-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AD-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B5%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7--%D8%AC%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%B9%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B1 |date=2018-03-27 }}. ''An-Nahar''</ref><ref name=bekaa1>[http://www.almodon.com/politics/2018/3/27/13-%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A3%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%83-%D8%AD%D8%B2%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87 13 لائحة في البقاع: أم معارك حزب الله]. ''Al-Modon''</ref> Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb Party fielded the "Zahle is Our Cause" list.<ref name=bekaa1/> There were also the "Popular Bloc" list led by [[Myriam Skaff]], "Zahle Options and Decisions" led by Nicolas Fattouch (including a Hezbollah candidate) and the civil society list "We are All National".<ref name=bekaa1/> [[Ashraf Rifi]] did not field a list in Zahle, as he failed to reach an alliance with Kataeb and Lebanese Forces on the matter.<ref name=rifizahle>[https://al-akhbar.com/Politics/246768 زحلة دائرة المفاجآت... والأرمني عقدة]. ''Al-Akhbar''</ref> Commenting on the pre-electoral alliance-building in Zahle, an [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al-Jazeera]] journalist noted "[b]izarre alliances competing for one eastern city's seven seats reflect maneuvering for votes in parliamentary elections".<ref>Al-Jazeera. ''[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/05/lebanon-zahle-elections-local-180505173955963.html In Lebanon's Zahle, elections are local]''</ref>
:'''''Bold''' indicated incumbent parliamentarian, green winning candidate'' {| class=wikitable style=text-align:left !colspan=2|List !Votes !% !Seats !colspan=2|Greek Catholic, 2 seats !colspan=1|Maronite, 1 seat !Greek Orthodox, 1 seat !Sunni, 1 seat !Shia, 1 seat !Armenian Orthodox, 1 seat |- |align=left, style="background-color:#000080"| |"Zahle for All" | 36,391 | 39.70 | 3 |{{yes|Michel George Daher<br />9,742 (10.63%)}}||Michel Skaff<br />987 (1.08%)||{{yes|Salim Aoun<br /><small>([[Free Patriotic Movement|FPM]])<ref name=fpm1>''Daily Star''. ''[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2018/Mar-16/441797-fpm-announces-46-candidates-for-elections.ashx FPM announces 46 candidates for elections]''</ref></small><br />5,567 (6.07%)}}||Assaad Nakad<br />4,138 (4.51%)||{{yes|'''''Asim Araji'''''<br /><small>([[Future Movement|Future]])<ref name=future1>mtv. ''[https://www.mtv.com.lb/en/news/local/791420/names_of_future_movement_candidates_for_the_parliamentary_elections Names of Future Movement candidates for the parliamentary elections]''</ref></small><br />7,224 (7.88%)}}||Nizar Dalloul<br /><small>([[Future Movement|Future]])<ref name=future1/></small><br />3,947 (4.31%)||Marie-Jeanne Bilezikjian<br />3,851 (4.20%) |- |align=left, style="background-color:purple"| |"Zahle Options and Decisions" | 23,546 | 25.69 | 2 |'''''Nicolas Fattouch'''''<br />5,737 (6.26%)|| ||Khalil Hrawi<br />343 (0.37%)||Nassif Al-Tini<br /><small>([[Syrian Social Nationalist Party|SSNP]])<ref name=ssnp17>[https://www.almarkazia.com/ar/news/show/10990/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D9%85%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%AD%D9%8A%D9%87-%D9%81%D9%8A-7-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8 "القومي" يعلن عن مرشحيه في 7 دوائر معاهداً العمل للبنان المواطنة والعدالة]. Al Markazia</ref></small><br />528 (0.58%)||Wajih Araji<br />592 (0.65%)||{{yes|Anwar Jomaa<br /><small>([[Hezbollah]])<ref name=hzb1>''Al-Monitor''. ''[https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/03/lebanon-elections-new-law-hezbollah-results-constituency-win.html Lebanon's new electoral law could spell trouble for traditional parties]''</ref></small><br />15,601 (17.02%)}}||{{yes|[[Eddie Demirjian]]<br />77 (0.08%)}} |- |align=left, style="background-color:red"| |"Zahle is Our Cause" | 18,702 | 20.40 | 2 |{{yes|George Akeis<br /><small>([[Lebanese Forces]])<ref name=lf1>LBCI. ''[https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/d/news-bulletin-reports/367659/report-who-are-lf-candidates-for-upcoming-election/en REPORT: Who are LF candidates for upcoming elections?]''</ref></small><br />11,363 (12.40%)}}||Michel Fattouch<br />552 (0.60%)||'''''Elie Maroni'''''<br /><small>([[Kataeb Party|Kataeb]])<ref name=kat1>kataeb.org. ''[http://www.kataeb.org/local/2018/03/11/kataeb-party-announces-candidates-for-parliamentary-polls Kataeb Party Announces Candidates for Parliamentary Polls] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509122636/http://www.kataeb.org/local/2018/03/11/kataeb-party-announces-candidates-for-parliamentary-polls |date=2018-05-09 }}''</ref></small><br />1,213 (1.32%)||{{yes|César Maalouf<br />3,554 (3.88%)}}||Muhammad Ali Mita<br />1,370 (1.49%)||Amer Sabouri<br />111 (0.12%)||Boughous Kordian<br />142 (0.15%) |- |align=left, style="background-color:green"| |"[[Popular Bloc (Lebanon)|Popular Bloc]]" | 10,885 | 11.87 | 0 |[[Myriam Skaff|Mariam Skaff]]<br />6,348 (6.92%)||Nicola Amorri<br />95 (0.10%)||Paul Charbel<br />824 (0.90%)||Nicola Saba<br />271 (0.30%)||Ahmed Ajoumi<br />1,008 (1.10%)||Osama Salhab<br />172 (0.19%)||George Bushikian<br />1,845 (2.01%) |- |align=left, style="background-color:turquoise"| |"We are All National" | 1,599 | 1.74 | 0 |Ghassan Maalouf<br />651 (0.71%)|| ||Hanna Habib<br />287 (0.31%)||Vanda Chedid<br /><small>([[Green Party of Lebanon|Green]])<ref name=zahle6>''L'Orient Le Jour''. ''[https://www.lorientlejour.com/elections/article/1108850/zahle-une-bataille-charniere-qui-gagne-tous-les-jours-en-fievre.html Zahlé, une bataille charnière qui gagne tous les jours en fièvre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153421/https://www.lorientlejour.com/elections/article/1108850/zahle-une-bataille-charniere-qui-gagne-tous-les-jours-en-fievre.html |date=2018-06-20 }}''</ref></small><br />268 (0.29%)||Houd Taaïmi<br />201 (0.22%)||Mohammad Hassan<br />71 (0.08%)|| |- |colspan=10 align=left|Source: Al-Liwaa,<ref>[http://aliwaa.com.lb/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86/%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9/%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%B2%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%83%D9%84-%D9%88%D9%87%D8%B0%D9%87-%D9%87%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A1/ اعلان لائحة "زحلة للكل"... وهذه هي الأسماء]. ''Al-Liwaa''</ref> ACE Project,<ref name=el>''[http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/mideast/LB/lebanon-law-no.44-parliamentary-elections-2017/at_download/file Table Attached to Law 44 dated 17/6/2017 (Official Gazette no.27 dated 17 June 2017) - Distribution of Seats to the Confessions and Districts]'' ACE Project</ref> Ministry of Interior and Municipalities<ref name=elbekaaI>[http://elections.gov.lb/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9/2018/%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%AD/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%AD%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%83%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%AA%D9%87.aspx اللوائح المسجلَّة في دائرة البقاع الاولى كما نشرتها المديرية العامة للشؤون السياسية واللاجئين]. Ministry of Interior and Municipalities</ref><ref name=moiresults>[http://www.interior.gov.lb/AdsDetails.aspx?ida=281 نتائج الإنتخابات النيابية العامة 2018]. Ministry of Interior and Municipalities</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}}{{Electoral districts of Lebanon}} [[Category:Electoral districts of Lebanon]]