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

Current Political Context

Lebanon is characterised by a high level of political instability, aggravated by a severe economic crisis. The political system aims at preserving the balance between the main religious groups. Indirect presidential elections took place between 29 September 2022 and 9 January 2025 to select a successor to Michel Aoun. On 9 January 2025, during the second round of voting in the thirteenth parliamentary session, Joseph Aoun, the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (unrelated to Michel Aoun), was elected president with 99 votes. He assumed office the same day while retaining his military position, becoming Lebanon’s 14th president and the fifth army commander to hold the post, ending an unprecedented institutional vacuum amid a dramatic economic and political situation. In fact, shortly after the onset of the Israel–Hamas war in October 2023, Hezbollah joined the conflict, citing solidarity with Palestinians. The conflict escalated in 2024, and on 1 October 2024, Israel invaded Lebanon. In September 2024, Israel launched cyberattacks on Hezbollah’s communication systems and assassinated key leaders, including Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, in a bombing that destroyed the group’s Beirut headquarters. On 1 October 2024, Israel began a full-scale invasion of southern Lebanon, having previously conducted limited ground operations. The offensive dismantled much of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and destroyed a significant portion of its missile stockpile. The conflict displaced around 96,000 people in northern Israel and over 1.4 million in Lebanon. A ceasefire agreement requiring a 60-day pause to hostilities was signed on 27 November 2024 by Israel, Lebanon, and five mediator nations, including the United States. The agreement called for Hezbollah to retreat north of the Litani River and Israel to leave southern Lebanon. On 26 January 2025, the United States said that the ceasefire had been extended until 18 February despite alleged violations by both sides.

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.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

107/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Partly Free

Political Freedom:

5/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House