Kristy Asseily joins The Beirut Banyan to discuss her candidacy for Beirut's 2025 municipal elections.

Our discussion covers her recent return to Lebanon and passion for grassroots politics, Beirut Madinati's efforts in retrospect, and the short and long-term platform the list is advocating.

We also talk about voter engagement, communal concerns, municipal relations with the Muhafez, digitization efforts, learning from NGOs and why the municipality matters.

Kristy Asseily is a member of the National Bloc.

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:32 Professional background

3:13 Return to Lebanon

5:30 Municipal vs national politics

6:38 Decision to join National Bloc

8:26 Beirut Madinati in retrospect

13:23 Coalition disadvantage

15:03 Voter engagement

17:21 Sectarian concerns vs numbers

20:03 Striking names

23:22 Platform & financial audit

27:14 Starting small

30:45 Relations with the Muhafez

35:13 Collecting taxes

37:42 Digitization

40:59 Ghost projects

42:21 Accusations & false assumptions

44:17 Mobile app

47:53 Citizen forums

49:05 Bygone urban planning

53:17 Learning from NGOs

54:14 Reinvigorating the port

58:13 Vacancies & rent rates

1:01:26 Commute & accessibility

1:02:40 Political void & communal votes

1:08:15 Why the Municipality matters