A Reuters calculation of final results revealed that Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies lost their majority in Lebanon’s parliament in a parliamentary election, a severe defeat to the highly armed party that reflected frustration with Lebanon’s ruling class.

The Shi’ite Muslim organization and groups supporting its right to bear arms gained about 62 of parliament’s 128 seats in Sunday’s election, reversing their 2018 result when they earned a majority of 71.

Reform-minded political newcomers gained approximately a dozen seats in the first election since Lebanon’s economic collapse and the Beirut port explosion in 2020, making an unexpectedly big breakthrough into a system long dominated by the same organizations.

Opponents of Hezbollah gained strength, particularly the Saudi-aligned Lebanese Forces, a Christian organization. It claimed to have surpassed Lebanon’s largest single Christian party, the Hezbollah-aligned Free Patriotic Movement (FPM).

As a result of the results, parliament is divided into numerous groups, none of which has a majority, creating the potential of political stagnation and tensions that might postpone necessary changes to bring the country out of its terrible economic crisis.

While the 2018 election brought Lebanon closer to Shi’ite Muslim-led Iran, the results may allow Saudi Arabia to regain its influence in a nation that has long been a battleground in its regional conflict with Tehran.

The final results on Tuesday included a record number of eight female legislators, nearly half of whom were newbies.

Unexpected defections included Hezbollah allies Talal Arslan, heir to one of Lebanon’s oldest Druze political dynasties, and deputy speaker of parliament Elie Ferzli.

Faisal Karami, a Sunni Muslim politician from another Lebanese political family, also lost his seat in the country’s second city Tripoli.