BEIRUT — Lebanese citizens in the North and Akkar governorates are getting ready to cast their votes on Sunday in the country’s first municipal elections in nearly a decade. The event comes after years of political paralysis, a severe financial crisis and a devastating war with Israel.

The elections are taking place over four weeks in Lebanon’s nine governorates. The first round began last Sunday, May 4, in the Mount Lebanon and Keserwan-Jbeil governorates. This Sunday, May 11, polls will open in the North and Akkar governorates, with a subsequent round of voting due May 18 in the governorates of Beirut, Beqaa and Baalbek-Hermel. The last round falls on May 24 in South Lebanon and Nabatieh.

Municipal councils, which are in charge of local governance, public services and development, are elected for six-year terms. The last elections, however, took place in 2016. Initially planned for May 2022, the elections have been postponed three times.

This year’s elections follow significant changes in the Lebanese political scene following the election of Western-backed Joseph Aoun as president in January, ending more than two years of presidential vacuum. Aoun took power shortly after a ceasefire ended the 13-month war between Israel and Hezbollah late last November.