DOCSLIB.ORG

A Lebanon Political Primer May 2009

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Lebanon Political Primer May 2009 International Foundation for Electoral Systems A Lebanon Political Primer May 2009 Constitutional Positions By political agreement since Lebanese independence in 1943, the three key constitutional positions are reserved for citizens from specific confessional groups. President Prime Minister Parliamentary Speaker General Michel Sleiman Fouad Sinora Naibh Berri Maronite Christian Sunni Muslim Shiite Muslim No political alignment Future Movement Amal Movement Elected as President by Prime Minister since July 2005. Speaker since November 1992. Parliament on 25 May 2008. Standing as a candidate in Saida. Standing as a candidate in Formerly the Head of the Zahrany. Lebanese Armed Forces. Parliamentary Blocs The 128-seat Lebanese Parliament currently has two parliamentary blocs: the majority bloc (with 67 Deputies) consists of political parties and affiliated independents referred to as “March 14”. The other bloc (with 56 Deputies) consists of political parties and independents affiliated to two coalesced groups, the March 8 coalition and the Reform and Change alliance. At the time the June 7 elections were called, three Deputies are not affiliated to either bloc and there were two vacant seats. This chart refers to numbers of Deputies as of April 2009 and the confessional group to which the party is most closely linked. March 14 Parliamentary Bloc March 8 and Reform and Change Parliamentary Bloc 67 Deputies 56 Deputies Future Movement (FM) Hezbollah 27 Deputies 11 Deputies Leader: Saad Hariri Leader: Hassan Nasrallah Mostly Sunni Muslim Shiite Muslim Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) Amal Movement 6 Deputies 10 Deputies Leader: Walid Jumblatt Leader: Nabih Berri Druze Shiite Muslim Lebanese Forces (LF) Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) 5 Deputies 7 Deputies Leader: Dr. Samir Geagea Leader: General Michel Aoun Christian Christian Kateab (Phalange) Tashnak 1 Deputy 2 Deputies Leader: President Amin Gemayel Leader: Hovig Mekhitarian Christian Armenian Christian Democratic Left Movement Democratic Renewal Movement Syrian Social Nationalist Party 1 Deputy (DLM) 1 Deputy (DRM) 2 Deputies (SSNP) Christian Christian Secular Ramgavar Hanshak Nasserist Popular Movement Arab Socialist Baath Party 1 Deputy 1 Deputy 1 Deputy 1 Deputy Armenian Christian Armenian Christian Sunni Sunni Independent Deputies affiliated to the March 14 bloc Independent Deputies affiliated to the M8 and C&R bloc 24 Deputies 22 Deputies (16 Christian, 4 Sunni, 2 Armenian, 1 Druze, 1 Alawite) (13 Christian, 3 Sunni, 4 Shiite, 1 Druze, 1 Alawite) The March 14 bloc also includes non-parliamentary political parties, The March 8 and Change & Reform bloc also includes non-parliamentary including the Lebanese Option Group (Shiite), the National Bloc Party and political parties such as Marada (Christian) and the the National Liberal Party (both Christian). Lebanese Democratic Party (Druze). The Council of Ministers The Lebanese Cabinet is composed of 30 Ministers, with portfolios distributed equally between Christian and Muslim confessions. Following the May 2008 Doha Agreement, the current Cabinet has sixteen Ministers affiliated to March 14, nine Ministers affiliated to the March 8/C&R bloc and three non-affiliated Ministers who were nominated by President Sleiman. Under Article 65 of the Lebanese Constitution, the Council of Ministers must have a two-thirds majority to decide on ‘national issues’ such as the budget, international treaties, the election law, the dissolution of Parliament etc. Prime Minister Justice Economy Education Finance Deputy P M Foreign Affairs Agriculture Youth & Sport Interior Fouad Siniora Ibrahim Najjar Mohamad Safadi Bahia Hariri Mohamad Chatah I. Abu Jamra Fawzi Salloukh Elias Skaff Talal Arslan Ziyad Baroud FM LF Ind FM FM FPM Amal Ind. LD Non-Affiliated Sunni Greek Orthodox Sunni Sunni Sunni Greek Orthodox Shiite Greek Catholic Druze Maronite Information Public Work Environment Culture Displaced Labour Energy & Water Telecoms Health Defence Tarek Mitri Ghazi Aridi Antoine Karam Tammam Salam Raymond Audi Mohamad Fneish Alain Tabourian Gebran Bassil Mohamad Kalifeh Elias Murr Ind. PSP LF Ind. Ind. Hezbollah Tashnag FPM Amal Non-Affiliated Greek Orthodox Druze Maronite Sunni Greek Catholic Shiite Armenian Ortho. Maronite Shiite Greek Orthodox Admin Reform Tourism State State State State State Industry Social Affairs State Ib. Shamseddine Elie Marouni Nassib Lahoud Khaled Qabbani Wael Abou Faour Jean Ogassapian Ali Qanso Ghazi Zoayter Mario Aoun Youssef Taqla Ind. Kataeb DRM FM PSP Ind. SSNP Amal FPM Non-Affiliated Shiite Maronite Maronite Sunni Druze Armenian Ortho. Shiite Shiite Maronite Greek Orthodox .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Increasing Enterprise Growth and Jobs in Lebanon
    INCREASING ENTERPRISE GROWTH AND JOBS IN LEBANON OPTIONS TO INCREASE SME GROWTH AND JOBS ASIA & MIDDLE EAST ECONOMIC GROWTH BEST PRACTICES PROGRAM Students at a Lebanese vocational school learn how to create garment patterns through a specialized training program in Beirut. 1 MAY 2015 Students at a Lebanese vocational school learn how to create garment patterns through a Thisspecialized publication training was producedprogram in for Beiru reviewt. by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Douglas Muir, Janet Gohlke-Rouhayem, and Craig Saltzer of Chemonics International, Hayley Alexander of Banyan Global, and Henri Stetter of the Pragma Corporation for the Asia & Middle East Economic Growth Best Practices Program contract no. AID-OAA-M-12-00008. INCREASING ENTERPRISE GROWTH AND JOBS IN LEBANON OPTIONS TO INCREASE SME GROWTH AND JOBS ASIA & MIDDLE EAST ECONOMIC GROWTH BEST PRACTICES PROGRAM Contract No. AID-OAA-M-12-00008 Contracting Officer Representative, William Baldridge [email protected] (202) 712-4089 The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ 1 SECTION I: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 6 A. Purpose of Assessment..............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The New Lebanese Government
    The New Lebanese Government Assessment Report by the Lebanese Information Center July 2011 www.licus.org cleared for public release /D1 Nearly five months after his appointment as Prime Minister, Najib Mikati finally formed the Lebanese Cabinet on June 13, 2011. The 30-member cabinet, in which Hezbollah and its allies hold a majority, was formed following arduous negotiations between the new majority, constituted of the March 8 parties, and their allies. The March 14 alliance had announced that it will not take part in the Mikati cabinet following the forced collapse of Hariri’s unity government. Furthermore, appointed Druze Minister of State, Talal Arslan, announced his immediate resignation from the government to protest not being given a portfolio. Despite clearly [and exclusively] representing the Pro-Syrian camp, Prime Minister Mikati announced that his government is “a government for all Lebanese, no matter what party they support, be it the majority or the opposition.” Contents The New Government – Statistics in Brief ..................................................................................................2 Cabinet Members .................................................................................................................................... 2 Composition by Party Affiliation ........................................................................................................... 3 Composition by Coalition ......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Public Transcript of the Hearing Held On
    20150325_STL-11-01_T_T135_OFF_PUB_EN 1/104 PUBLIC Official Transcript Procedural Matters (Open Session) Page 1 1 Special Tribunal for Lebanon 2 In the case of The Prosecutor v. Ayyash, Badreddine, Merhi, 3 Oneissi, and Sabra 4 STL-11-01 5 Presiding Judge David Re, Judge Janet Nosworthy, 6 Judge Micheline Braidy, Judge Walid Akoum, and 7 Judge Nicola Lettieri - [Trial Chamber] 8 Wednesday, 25 March 2015 - [Trial Hearing] 9 [Open Session] 10 [The witness takes the stand] 11 --- Upon commencing at 10.01 a.m. 12 THE REGISTRAR: The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is sitting in an 13 open session in the case of the Prosecutor versus Ayyash, Badreddine, 14 Merhi, Oneissi, and Sabra, case number STL-11-01. 15 PRESIDING JUDGE RE: Good morning. We will continue with the 16 evidence of Mr. Siniora today. 17 And good morning to you, Mr. Siniora. We trust you are 18 refreshed. 19 THE WITNESS: Good morning. 20 PRESIDING JUDGE RE: I just note the appearances. We have 21 Mr. Cameron appearing for the Prosecution. For the Legal Representative 22 for the Victims, we have Mr. Mattar and Ms. Abdelsater-Abusamra. For the 23 Defence we have Mr. Aoun for Mr. Ayyash; Mr. Korkmaz for Mr. Badreddine; 24 Mr. Hassan for Mr. Oneissi; Mr. Young for Mr. Sabra; and Mr. Khalil, who 25 is halfway through his cross-examination we hear, for Mr. Merhi. And Wednesday, 25 March 2015 STL-11-01 Interpretation serves to facilitate communication. Only the original speech is authentic. 20150325_STL-11-01_T_T135_OFF_PUB_EN 2/104 PUBLIC Official Transcript Witness: Fouad Siniora –PRH108 (Resumed) (Open Session) Page 2 Cross-examination by Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Lebanon: Managing the Gathering Storm
    LEBANON: MANAGING THE GATHERING STORM Middle East Report N°48 – 5 December 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................. i I. A SYSTEM BETWEEN OLD AND NEW.................................................................. 1 A. SETTING THE STAGE: THE ELECTORAL CONTEST..................................................................1 B. THE MEHLIS EFFECT.............................................................................................................5 II. SECTARIANISM AND INTERNATIONALISATION ............................................. 8 A. FROM SYRIAN TUTELAGE TO WESTERN UMBRELLA?............................................................8 B. SHIFTING ALLIANCES..........................................................................................................12 III. THE HIZBOLLAH QUESTION ................................................................................ 16 A. “A NEW PHASE OF CONFRONTATION” ................................................................................17 B. HIZBOLLAH AS THE SHIITE GUARDIAN?..............................................................................19 C. THE PARTY OF GOD TURNS PARTY OF GOVERNMENT.........................................................20 IV. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 22 A. A BROAD INTERNATIONAL COALITION FOR A NARROW AGENDA .......................................22 B. A LEBANESE COURT ON FOREIGN
    [Show full text]
  • Lebanon: Military Activities in the Chouf District That Might Have Involved the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF); Links Between
    Response to Information Request LBN101023.E Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada www.irb-cisr.gc.ca Français Home Contact Us Help Search canada.gc.ca Home > Research > Responses to Information Requests RESPONSES TO INFORMATION REQUESTS (RIRs) New Search | About RIRs | Help The Board 12 April 2006 About the Board LBN101023.E Biographies Organization Chart Lebanon: Military activities in the Chouf district that might have involved the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF); links between the IDF and the Druze in Lebanon (January Employment 1980 - April 2006) Legal and Policy Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa References Publications According to the Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities, published in 2005, Lebanon's roughly 200,000 Druze form seven percent of the nation's population Tribunal and are mostly concentrated in the Chouf (also spelled Shuf [Mackey 1989, 187]) Refugee Protection mountains south of Beirut (410). Division Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) - Druze Relations During the Lebanese Civil Immigration Division War Immigration Appeal Division In 14 March 2006 correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, a Decisions professor of political science at the American University of Beirut provided the following information: Forms Statistics The IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] occupied the Chouf district in June 1982, during Research their invasion of Lebanon. They completely evacuated the area by the beginning of 1984. Most IDF troops stationed in the Chouf district were Israeli Druze. Apart from Research Program driving the PLO and the Syrian army from the district, the IDF had no military National activity. The IDF achieved its military objective in the Chouf district within a few Documentation days in June 1982...
    [Show full text]
  • Palestinian Forces
    Center for Strategic and International Studies Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy 1800 K Street, N.W. • Suite 400 • Washington, DC 20006 Phone: 1 (202) 775 -3270 • Fax : 1 (202) 457 -8746 Email: [email protected] Palestinian Forces Palestinian Authority and Militant Forces Anthony H. Cordesman Center for Strategic and International Studies [email protected] Rough Working Draft: Revised February 9, 2006 Copyright, Anthony H. Cordesman, all rights reserved. May not be reproduced, referenced, quote d, or excerpted without the written permission of the author. Cordesman: Palestinian Forces 2/9/06 Page 2 ROUGH WORKING DRAFT: REVISED FEBRUARY 9, 2006 ................................ ................................ ............ 1 THE MILITARY FORCES OF PALESTINE ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 2 THE OSLO ACCORDS AND THE NEW ISRAELI -PALESTINIAN WAR ................................ ................................ .............. 3 THE DEATH OF ARAFAT AND THE VICTORY OF HAMAS : REDEFINING PALESTINIAN POLITICS AND THE ARAB - ISRAELI MILITARY BALANCE ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 4 THE CHANGING STRUCTURE OF PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY FORC ES ................................ ................................ .......... 5 Palestinian Authority Forces During the Peace Process ................................ ................................ ..................... 6 The
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
    E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 155 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2009 No. 6 House of Representatives The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2009, at 12:30 p.m. Senate MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2009 The Senate met at 2 p.m. and was The legislative clerk read the fol- was represented in the Senate of the called to order by the Honorable JIM lowing letter: United States by a terrific man and a WEBB, a Senator from the Common- U.S. SENATE, great legislator, Wendell Ford. wealth of Virginia. PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, Senator Ford was known by all as a Washington, DC, January 12, 2009. moderate, deeply respected by both PRAYER To the Senate: sides of the aisle for putting progress The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, ahead of politics. Senator Ford, some of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby fered the following prayer: appoint the Honorable JIM WEBB, a Senator said, was not flashy. He did not seek Let us pray. from the Commonwealth of Virginia, to per- the limelight. He was quietly effective Almighty God, from whom, through form the duties of the Chair. and calmly deliberative. whom, and to whom all things exist, ROBERT C. BYRD, In 1991, Senator Ford was elected by shower Your blessings upon our Sen- President pro tempore. his colleagues to serve as Democratic ators.
    [Show full text]
  • Envisioning and Contesting a New Lebanon? Actors, Issues and Dynamics Following the October Protests About International Alert
    Envisioning and contesting a new Lebanon? Actors, issues and dynamics following the October protests About International Alert International Alert works with people directly affected by conflict to build lasting peace. We focus on solving the root causes of conflict, bringing together people from across divides. From the grassroots to policy level, we come together to build everyday peace. Peace is just as much about communities living together, side by side, and resolving their differences without resorting to violence, as it is about people signing a treaty or laying down their arms. That is why we believe that we all have a role to play in building a more peaceful future. www.international-alert.org © International Alert 2020 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without full attribution. Layout: Marc Rechdane Front cover image: © Ali Hamouch Envisioning and contesting a new Lebanon? Actors, issues and dynamics following the October protests Muzna Al-Masri, Zeina Abla and Rana Hassan August 2020 2 | International Alert Envisioning and contesting a new Lebanon? Acknowledgements International Alert would like to thank the research team: Muzna Al-Masri, Zeina Abla and Rana Hassan, as well as Aseel Naamani, Ruth Simpson and Ilina Slavova from International Alert for their review and input. We are also grateful for the continuing support from our key funding partners: the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
    [Show full text]
  • Defending Damascus, Betraying Beirut: Hezbollah's Communication
    Defending Damascus, Betraying Beirut: Hezbollah’s Communication Strategies in the Syrian Civil War Research Thesis Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with research distinction in International Studies in the undergraduate colleges of The Ohio State University by Maxwell Scurlock The Ohio State University April 2017 Project Advisor: Professor Jeffrey Lewis, International Studies Table of Contents Part 1 – Background Information and Historical Context Introduction – 1 1. Historical and Contextual Background – 6 a. Shi‘ism in Historical Context – 9 b. French Mandatory Period, 1920-1945 – 10 c. Independence to Black September, 1945-1970 – 14 d. The Early Years of the Lebanese Civil War and the Emergence of Hezbollah, 1970-1982 – 17 e. Hezbollah’s Formation – 21 f. Hezbollah’s Early Ideological Framework – 23 g. Syrian and Israeli Occupations of Lebanon, 1982-2005 – 24 h. Political Turmoil, 2006 Lebanon War, and 2008 Lebanese Political Crisis – 29 i. Hezbollah’s 2009 Manifesto – 31 j. The Syrian Civil War – 32 k. Sunni Islamists in Lebanon and Syria – 34 l. Lebanese Christians – 37 Part 2 – Analysis of Hezbollah’s Communications 2. Theoretical Approach to Hezbollah’s Communications – 40 3. Hezbollah in Syria – 44 a. Hezbollah’s Participation in Syria – April 30th, 2013 – 44 b. The Campaign for al-Qusayr, Part One – May 9th, 2013 – 48 c. The Campaign for al-Qusayr, Part Two – May 25th, 2013 – 50 4. Hezbollah’s Responses to Terrorism – 54 a. An Attack in al-Dahieh – August 16th, 2013 – 54 b. The Bombing of Iran’s Embassy – November 19th, 2013 – 56 5. Further Crises – 62 a. The Assassination of Hezbollah Commander Hassan al-Laqqis – December 3rd, 2013 – 62 b.
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis of Platforms in Lebanon's 2018 Parliamentary Election
    ا rلeمtركnزe اCل لبeنsانneي aلbلeدرLا eساThت LCPS for Policy Studies r e p a 9 Analysis of Platforms 1 P 0 2 y a y M in Lebanon's 2018 c i l o Parliamentary Election P Nizar Hassan Founded in 1989, the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies is a Beirut-based independent, non-partisan think tank whose mission is to produce and advocate policies that improve good governance in fields such as oil and gas, economic development, public finance, and decentralization. Copyright© 2019 The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies Designed by Polypod Executed by Dolly Harouny Sadat Tower, Tenth Floor P.O.B 55-215, Leon Street, Ras Beirut, Lebanon T: + 961 1 79 93 01 F: + 961 1 79 93 02 [email protected] www.lcps-lebanon.org Analysis of Platforms in Lebanon's 2018 Parliamentary Election 1 1 Nizar Hassan The author would like to thank Sami Nizar Hassan is a former researcher at the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies. He Atallah, John McCabe, and Georgia Dagher for their contributions to this paper. holds an M.Sc. in Labour, Social Movements and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. At LCPS, his work focused on Lebanese political parties and movements and their policy platforms. His master’s research examined protest movements in Lebanon and he currently researches political behavior in the districts of Chouf and Aley. Nizar co-hosts ‘The Lebanese Politics Podcast’, and his previous work has included news reporting and non-profit project management. 2 LCPS Policy Paper Introduction Prior to the May 2018 Lebanese Parliamentary Election, a majority of 2 2 political parties and emerging political groups launched electoral Henceforth referred to as 'emerging platforms outlining their political and socioeconomic goals and means groups'.
    [Show full text]
  • PDF Generator
    Government (non-)formation in contemporary Lebanon: sectarianism, power-sharing, and economic immobilism. Catherine Batruni, Marcus Hallinan Abstract Four months after the parliamentary elections, the Lebanese state is still without a government. Politicians have been hindering the configuration of a new cabinet in order to maximise their own personal gains. This paper probes the positions of the most prominent political parties in the country, namely the Lebanese Forces, Free Patriotic Movement, Progressive Socialist Party, Lebanese Democratic Party, Future Movement, and Hezbollah, and examines the repercussions of this political vacuum on the economy. We raise the question: why does Lebanon continually find itself in this recurring situation where it is incapable of forming a timely government after elections? We argue that the political structure and sectarian arrangement of the Lebanese government allow such dysfunction to flourish through an absence of accountability measures in the constitution and a prioritizing of sectarian equilibrium as the primary factor in electing a government. Keywords: Lebanese Sectarian System, Power Dynamics, Lebanese Politics To cite this paper: Catherine Batruni, Marcus Hallinan, "Government (non-)formation in contemporary Lebanon: sectarianism, power-sharing, and economic immobilism. ", Civil Society Knowledge Center, Lebanon Support, September, 2018 . DOI: 10.28943/CSKC.002.60002. [ONLINE]: https://civilsociety-centre.org/paper/government-non-formation-contemporary-lebanon-sectarianism- power-sharing-and-economic Introduction Contemporary Lebanese political life has been one of maximal delays. Customarily, parliamentary [1] elections must transpire every 4 years, although this is not explicitly stated in the constitution. After 9 years of regular postponements and the fabrication of a new electoral law, Lebanon held its most recent parliamentary elections on May 6, 2018.
    [Show full text]
  • Lebanon's Catalyst for Renewal
    LEBANON’S CATALYST FOR RENEWAL BILAL Y. SAAB FEBRUARY 2021 Photo above: Lebanese President, Michel Aoun (C) meets Former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Saad Hariri (R), and Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri (L) in Beirut, Lebanon on October 22, 2020. Photo by Lebanese Presidency/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images. The Arab uprisings of the past decade have produced some of the most glorious and memorable phrases. From al-shaab yurid isqat al-nizam (“the people want to topple the regime”) and irhal! (“leave!”) to thawra! (“revolution!”) and Killon yaani killon silmiya, silmiya (“peaceful, peaceful”), Arabs from various parts (“all of them means of the region and all walks of life have joined together in chant expressing their desire for justice, dignity, and opportunity. all of them”) is an incredibly heavy Though revolutionary slogans by definition are imbued with lift. Probably an idealism, one seemed to stand out from the rest for its boldness impossible one too. and rejection of compromise. Killon yaani killon (“all of them means all of them”)1 was heard across Lebanon in 2019 when thousands of Lebanese took to the streets demanding the removal of not just a political leader or a government but the entire political class for its systematic corruption and direct role in leading the country to financial ruin and humanitarian catastrophe. 2 “What might serve as a catalyst for change is civil society and reform- oriented political parties coming together to form a larger political force that can … gradually alter the political rules of the game.” Though this wasn’t the first time the Lebanese fought for their rights change in the country because on its own, it’s unlikely it will be — they did it in spectacular fashion on March 14, 2005 when they able to drastically reform what is a deeply entrenched sectarian and called for the ousting of Syrian troops from the country and again feudal system.
    [Show full text]