40 candidates for Beirut Chamber elections

Bataille Royale to reshuffle current slate

Forty candidates have presented their credentials for the upcoming elections for the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon. The election was expected to be held on Sunday December 15, but the necessary quorum was not reached. Therefore, elections will be held on January 12 with whoever attends in person or through a proxy.

Most members of the incumbent board have filed for reelection – but not necessarily on the same slate. The chamber’s current chairman Mohamed Choucair has declared that he is running again together with his vice-presidents Mohamed Lamaa, Gaby Tamer, and Nabil Fahed. Other members expected to join his list, include Joumana Chelala. Michèle Chammas, Tania Eid, Jacques Hokayem, Hisham Itani, Sawsan Wazzan, Rabih Frem, Chakib Chehab, and Wissam Ariss.

Some outgoing members have dissented from Choucair’s list and are planning to form an opposing list. This effort is spearheaded by current board member Ghassan Bolbol and is expected to include Samir Tawileh, Aref Yafi, and Adel Bouhabib. Candidate Arslan Sinno, Chairman of Agrifood Traders said that he is running as an independent. Ismaïl Ismaïl, Chairman of the Basta Traders’ Association, has also announced his candidacy.
Mohammad Choucair said: “There are 40 candidates for the first time in the history of the Chamber. We prefer to witness competition among several candidates, instead of having one winning candidate by acclamation.”

The board of directors is composed of 24 members: 16 by elections and eight appointed by the government through the Ministry of Economy. Appointed outgoing members Raouf Abou Zeki and Bahige Abou Hamzeh are not expected to be reappointed for political reasons, said a source close to the Chamber.