USUP President Ibrahim Mrad mobilizes for Lebanese local elections, calls for reform

BEIRUT, Lebanon — As Lebanon prepares for municipal and local elections this Sunday, the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP) launched a strong campaign, positioning its participation as a stand against corruption, political clientelism, and Hezbollah’s increasing influence in historically Christian regions.

During a speech on Friday, USUP leader Ibrahim Mrad urged voters to rally behind his party’s candidates, emphasizing that the elections go beyond local governance and represent a pivotal moment for the country’s future. “Our list stands for resistance and struggle — it is a list dedicated to preserving our roots and securing our community’s rightful place in its homeland,” Mrad declared.

He described the party’s municipal and mayoral candidates in Sed al-Bouchrieh, Bouchrieh, and Jdeideh as “competent, principled, and committed individuals with clear development plans for the region.”

Fight Against Corruption and Sectarian Influence

Mrad delivered a scathing critique of Lebanon’s entrenched political elites, accusing them of decades of mismanagement. “It is time to rid ourselves of corruption and political brokers,” he declared. “It is time to break free from the feudal control that has ruled our people for forty years, offering nothing but neglect and decay.”

He specifically denounced alleged land transfers to Hezbollah, asserting that voting for candidates involved in such transactions would betray Lebanon’s Christian communities. “How can we, as Syriac [Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean] people — who sacrificed over 400 martyrs to defend this region — elect a list whose members have handed over Christian land to Hezbollah?” he asked. “This is unacceptable. It must not happen.”

Mrad urged voters to prioritize national sovereignty and community preservation over personal loyalties, emphasizing that elections should not be influenced by neighborhood affiliations or family connections.

Mobilization Strategy

Framing the elections as a strategic battle, Mrad urged supporters to approach Sunday’s vote with military-like discipline. “We must fight this battle as soldiers — house by house, street by street — liberating our region from clientelist influence,” he proclaimed.

He emphasized the importance of voting for all candidates on the party’s electoral lists without compromise or split ballots. “We need leadership that is sovereign, principled, and fully committed to representing our people,” he insisted.

Looking ahead, Mrad cautioned that failure to mobilize effectively would leave the region vulnerable to further political encroachment: “Either we vote with conviction and reclaim our future, or we forfeit the right to complain later about betrayals, corruption, and neglect.”