Anti-gov’t engineers hopeful after Lebanon syndicate victory

Winning coalition sees victory at syndicate election as reclaiming another civic space entrenched by sectarian parties.

Beirut, Lebanon – When the results of the Lebanese engineers’ syndicate election were announced on Sunday, a large group of engineers and activists gathered at its Beirut headquarters erupted in celebration. A coalition of grassroots activists and political groups had just decisively won against all odds. “It feels amazing. I didn’t expect this victory,” said Abir Saksouk, an architect among those elected. “We did expect to make a breakthrough of some sort because we had so many opposition candidates for the first time in the syndicates’ history – but nothing like this.”