An order from the Beirut governor to enforce laws banning campaign posters in public spaces seems to have fallen on deaf ears. In fact, it’s as if the candidates and their election operatives are now competing to show the governor how lawless they can be.
I have compiled just a few examples since the police seem to have missed all of these or have been on some sort of extended coffee break.
Let’s start with the most audacious.
1: Brazen: in one of the busiest intersections where police stand every day:
2: Double light post action: Is that worth two fines?
3: King of trees
4: King of the Corniche
5: 3D
6: Making it rain:
7: My face 1000 times:
8: Wall of shame:
9: King of the lighthouse:
10: King of the neighborhood:
11: On a wire:
12: Conquering abandoned buildings
13: “Spiderman”:
14: Dual action:
15: Chest hair appeal:
16: Refrigerator power:
17: Legal + illegal = Panorama
18: Cover-up
19: On government buildings?
Zoom in:
20: Every step you take…
At least one party (Beirut Madinati) is paying for legal advertising, despite the budgets of its billionaire competitors :
When your candidate runs an illegal campaign, what does it say about how they will govern you? If your candidate cannot follow the basic rules of elections, will they follow any rules once in power?
Of course it’s not just about posters. Some candidates have seized major streets using fake police sirens to stop traffic for their convoys. Other supporters, such as those in the campaign of Saad Hariri, fired hundreds of bullets in the air to intimidate their neighbors, in a clear violation of the law.
So if you are above the law before elections, how will you govern after? Wouldn’t it be great if illegal campaigns meant their candidates were illegal too?
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