Naharnet, The Interior Ministry announced Monday that the candidate for the vacant parliamentary seat in Jezzine, Amal Abou Zeid, has won the by-electionsAbou Zeid, fielded by the Free Patriotic Movement, was elected for the seat that was left vacant after the death of Change and Reform local MP Michel Helou.

He was facing other candidates running for the post. Abou Zeid garnered 14,653 votes, Ibrahim Azar 7,759, Salah Nicolas Jebran 3,162, and Patrick Rizkallah 399, said a ministry statement.

The parliamentary by-elections were held on Sunday in Jezzine in parallel with municipal and mayoral elections in the district and entire South Lebanon. Abou Zeid was nominated by the FPM and enjoyed key support from the Lebanese Forces, which was allied with the FPM in the municipal polls. His main competitor was Azar, the son of ex-MP Samir Azar who is close to Speaker Nabih Berri. Azar, who enjoyed the support of some families, was expected to garner votes from Berri's AMAL Movement, although it did not officially endorse him.

D.A.