[1][3] The main force in the election was the Beiruti Bloc, a coalition of five candidates running on a joint ticket; Abdallah al-Yafi (incumbent Prime Minister, who had taken over for an interim administration to oversee the holding of the elections in February 1968, following Rachid Karami's resignation), Saeb Salam (former prime minister, chairman of the board of Middle East Airlines), Uthman ad-Dana (judge and chairman of the National Labour Movement), Rachid Solh (lawyer by profession) and Nasim Majdalani (candidate for the Greek Orthodox seat).
[4] Notably al-Yafi and Salam were rivals for the post of Prime Minister, and had fought each other in previous elections.
[1] The only candidate outside the Beiruti Bloc who got elected was Shafik Wazzan, a lawyer and former leader of the National Front.
[1][6] There were three challengers for the Greek Orthodox seat; Edward Hanna, Dib Fallah and the journalist Jubran Akkawi.
For example, Khalil Shihabuddin was accused of having broken into a house to vandalize al-Yafi hung portraits on its balconies.