The Bar Association elections have started in their first round at 10:30 am, with the ballot boxes set to close at 1:30 pm; fifteen candidates are competing for the seat of president and membership, with six of them set to move on to the second round.

Lawyers turned out in large numbers to exercise their democratic rights and cast their votes including Kataeb Leader Samy Gemayel who expressed his full support to candidate Fadi Masri.

Gemayel emphasized that the Bar Association is the only institution functioning properly in the country, characterized by vitality and democracy.

He pointed out that every two years, lawyers vote to change the association's members and president.

“We, as Kataeb Party, believe that the most important thing in these elections is the independence of the Bar Association. The Kataeb Party does not impose any program on its candidate as his program is  for all lawyers.  My party is a guarantee of ethics, and when one of us reaches the Presidency of the Beirut Association, he must be able to act neutrally, dedicating all his activities to the service of the people. When his term in the Bar Association ends, he can repractice his political activities,” he explained.

“That was the case when Georges Jreij was elected as President of the Beirut Bar Association. It was a good and successful experience. Everyone recognized this success, and we hope to repeat it with Lawyer Fadi Masri, who is extremely competent. We are proud of Lawyer Fadi being our candidate. We hope that all lawyers in Lebanon have the same opinion as ours,” he added.

"The most important thing is for the Lebanese people to fully understand the damages of the current situation and to hold everyone accountable one day for their performance, words, and actions so that we can build the country we want,” Gemayel concluded.