Lebanon to elect its first new parliament since 2009

Lebanon opened polls for the first parliamentary elections after almost a decade today. The last elections in the country were in 2009, for what was supposed to be a four-year term. But parliament extended its term twice due to instability in neighboring Syria, and to reform the country's electoral laws. It changed the voting system, reduced the number of districts, and allowed expatriate voting for the first time. Hezbollah, the armed group considered a terrorist organization by the United States and others, is seeking to increase its parliamentary representation through the election.