Politicians in last-ditch rally as voters show little interest in going to polls

Iran-supported Hezbollah is expected to do well as reports emerge of intimidation by supporters of the militia

Their results will be closely monitored inside and outside the country.

Hezbollah has provided the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad with thousands of fighters since 2011, preserving his position in Damascus after seven years of civil war.

It is a move that has drawn criticism from Sunni and Christian quarters in the country, who say it risks embroiling Lebanon in a wider regional conflict.

While this election was not expected to rock the balance of power between the country’s established parties, the prospect of a low turnout boosted the chances of independents winning seats.

But Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, is expected to do well in the vote amid reports of intimidation by the militia’s supporters.

Last month, independent Shiite candidate Ali Al Amin, standing against Hezbollah and Amal, another dominant Shiite party, said 30 Hezbollah supporters assaulted him as he placed an election poster in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil.

Mr Hariri, while expected to be unable to hold all of his seats in parliament, is predicted to win another term as prime minister.

The country has suffered political paralysis and the knockon effects of the Syrian civil war since its last vote. More than a million Syrian refugees have crossed the country’s borders since then and Lebanon’s politicians failed to decide on a prime minister between 2014 and 2016.

The country’s parliamentary make-up reflects the amalgamation of communities, religions and sects living side-byside in the country.

Parliamentary seats are divided evenly between Muslims and Christians, and further subdivided among their various sects.

Lebanon’s president must always be Maronite Christian, the prime minister Sunni and the parliament speaker a Shiite.