On January 10, 1971, a by-poll was held to elect a member of parliament from one of the Sunni Muslim seats from Chouf District in the Lebanese Chamber of Deputies.
[1][2] The constituency was a very sensitive area, as it was the home to arch-rivals Kamal Jumblatt and Camille Chamoun.
[3] The election was called following the death of the incumbent Progressive Socialist Party parliamentarian Anwar al-Khatib in November 1970.
[1][2][3][4] Throughout the campaign there were unsuccessful efforts to find a compromise candidate, in order to avoid further sectarian conflict.
The Prime Minister Saeb Salam was the most prominent figure in this drive for a middle ground.