According to George Haddad, a senior member of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), the party has recently undergone a major reshuffle. "We view the municipal elections as a mere precursor for the other, more important ones," he said, explaining that the FPM has great ambitions after its success in the Ba'abda-Aley by-elections last summer. "Municipal elections take on less significance when one considers regional developments, though," he said, highlighting the party's hopes that a new political order for Lebanon is on its way.

Following the May municipal polls, the country is supposed to have presidential elections by the end of 2004, unless regional considerations favor renewing President Emile Lahoud's mandate. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for the summer of 2005.

According to Haddad, the party's main concern for the municipalities are to give them back their role in development, while freeing them from the grip of political leaders and from the corruption of government institutions. "Our programs will remain centered around integrity, merit and transparency," Haddad said. According to him, the movement is open to alliances with all major opposition parties. "Our only red line is aligning ourselves with the candidates of the authorities," he said. He added that the party's next task is to secure the new electoral law, "and to ensure the most democratic atmosphere possible."

According to former Prime Minister Salim Hoss, his National Action Forum will be actively involved in the upcoming polls. Hoss said that the forum had not yet formulated a plan for the municipal or parliamentary elections, "but we will definitely be backing people whose political line is similar to ours." As for the parliamentary elections, Hoss said that the forum is proposing a more fair electoral system, which has been presented to the authorities and, if accepted, will "guarantee a radical change in local political life." It features proportional representation, whereby winning lists get seats according to the percentage of votes they receive nationwide and not by the number of seats where they have a plurality of the votes. This would ensure that minorities are represented and encourage voters to vote.

Hoss claims the new system also guarantees equal opportunity by placing a ceiling on electoral expenditures (thus denying an unfair advantage to very wealthy candidates) and by ensuring equal representation in the media for candidates. As for the recently formed National Accord opposition group, which gathers veteran politicians, including Hoss himself, ­from across the confessional spectrum, Hoss said that it had not yet formulated a comprehensive plan for the upcoming polls.

The Qornet Shehwan Gathering, a Christian opposition group, which shares common members with the National Front, issued a detailed agenda for municipal elections. Besides declaring that it wants to give municipalities more autonomy by loosening the grip of the Interior Ministry, the group said that it will try to unify its ranks behind specific candidates. This is contrary to past practice, when Qornet Shehwan members backed different candidates.

The Lebanese Forces (LF) faction, still loyal to its imprisoned leader Samir Geagea, has recently undergone major changes, with many party officials such as Geagea's adviser Tawfiq Hindi reportedly falling out of favor with Geagea's wife Strida. According to sources close to Strida, the LF will nevertheless take part in the municipality elections.

Hariri was speaking in the VIP lounge at Damascus International Airport after arriving there to head a ministerial delegation for a joint meeting of the socioeconomic committee set up by the Higher Lebanese-Syrian Council. His Syrian counterpart, Naji Otari, and a number of other government leaders greeted the Lebanese Prime Minister, who was accompanied by several Lebanese ministers and other high-ranking officials, on arrival.

Discussing bilateral relations, Hariri said political and security relations, as well as coordination, existed on the highest levels between the two countries, though this does not apply to economic ties. He added that the main goal of the meeting was to "reach full integration" between the two countries on the economic level, which would "serve the interests of both Lebanon and Syria." Hariri stressed that Lebanon had joined the Euro-Med Partnership and Syria was preparing to follow suit, which should help integration between the two countries "so that we are able to confront competition from the major economic blocs."

Otari said the visit had "special importance" and was in line with the two peoples' aspirations to achieve full integration. He added that the "delicate circumstances" through which the Arab world was passing called for additional solidarity and cohesion, as well as a united position in the face of all "challenges" confronting the Arab nation.

Following the committee meeting, the two prime ministers, briefed Syrian President Bashar Assad on the outcome of the talks held. Otari later gave a luncheon in honor of Hariri and his delegation, which was attended by members of the Syrian government and other senior officials.