The political framework of Lebanon

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Joseph AOUN (since 9 January 2025)
Prime Minister: Najib MIQATI (since 20 September 2021)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: 2031
National Assembly: May 2026

Main Political Parties

Political forces are assigned by a fixed number of seats according to their religious denomination. They group to form electoral alliances, but such coalitions are weakly connected in practice. The main parties represented in the parliament are:

- Strong Republic: nationalist, parliamentary bloc of the Lebanese Forces in the Lebanese Parliament. Christian-based and former militia during the Lebanese civil war, right-wing
- Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc: it is the political wing of Hezbollah in the Parliament of Lebanon, Shia Islamist
- Development and Liberation Bloc: coalition formed by the Amal Movement and the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party
- Free Patriotic Movement: right-wing, christian democracy, civic nationalism
- Progressive Socialist Party: centre/centre-left, its confessional base is in the Druze sect
- Kataeb Party: right-wing, Christian.

Executive Power

The President is the head of state and is elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term. However, the President is not allowed to serve consecutive terms. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President in consultation with the National Assembly and, importantly, with the approval of the largest parliamentary bloc. The Prime Minister acts as the head of government and serves as long as he has the support of the parliament. Though the Prime Minister enjoys executive powers, which include the implementation of the law in the country and running the day-to-day affairs, the President also holds a strong and influential position, which includes the promulgation of laws passed by parliament and ratification of treaties. The Cabinet is chosen by the Prime Minister in consultation with the President and members of the National Assembly. As per the constitution of the country, the President must be a Maronite Catholic Christian and the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim.

Legislative Power

The legislature in Lebanon is unicameral. The parliament, called the National Assembly, consists of 128 seats, with its members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation and sectarian quotas. Members serve four-year terms. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the parliament. The executive branch of the government is directly or indirectly dependent on the support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. The Prime Minister cannot dissolve the parliament nor can he veto its enactments. The Speaker of the Parliament must be a Shia Muslim.