List of political parties in Lebanon
Member State of the Arab League |
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Lebanon has numerous political parties, but they play a much less significant role in Lebanese politics than they do in most parliamentary democracies. Many of the "parties" are simply lists of candidates endorsed by a prominent national or local figure. Loose coalitions, usually organized locally, are formed for electoral purposes by negotiation among clan leaders and candidates representing various religious communities; such coalitions usually exist only for the election, and rarely form a cohesive bloc in the National Assembly after the election. Until 2005, no single party had ever won more than 12.5 percent of the seats in the National Assembly, and no coalition of parties had won more than 35 percent.
Especially outside of the major cities, elections tend to focus more on local than national issues, and it is not unusual for a party to join an electoral ticket in one constituency while aligned with a rival party - even an ideologically opposite party - in another constituency.
The parties
Although almost every party is strongly dominated by a particular faith community, it should be noted that most nonetheless maintain that they are secular.
Party Emblem | Name in English | Name in Arabic | Acronym | Leader or Chairman | Remarks | Political Position | Sect or ethnic group |
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File:14march-logo.jpgMarch 14 Alliance or Loyalists | |||||||
File:Tayyar-mostakbal.jpg | Future Movement | Tayyar Al Mustaqbal تيار المستقبل | FM | Saad Hariri | Currently has 34 MPs | Capitalism | Officially secular; Mainly Sunni Muslim. |
File:Psp-leb.jpg | Progressive Socialist Party | Hizb al-Taqadummi al-Ishtiraki الحزب التقدمي الإشنراكي | PSP | Walid Jumblatt | Currently has 15 MPs | Officialy Socialism, but practically Feudalism | Officially secular; Mainly Druze |
Lebanese Forces | al-Quwat al-Lubnāniyya القوات اللبنانية | LF | Samir Geagea | Currenty has 5 MPs | Right wing, Lebanese nationalism | Officially secular; Mainly Maronite Christian | |
File:Kataeb-flag.gif | Phalangist or Kataeb Party march 14 faction | al-Kataeb al-Lubnāniyya حزب الكتائب اللبنانية | Kataeb | Amin Gemayel | Two MPs elected, both assassinated. Part of Qornet Shehwan Gathering | Right wing, Lebanese nationalism | Maronite Christian |
File:N686450064 283808 3983.jpg | National Liberal Party | Hizb al-Wataniyyin al-Ahrar حزب الوطنيين الأحرار | NLP | Dory Chamoun | Currently has no MPs. Part of Qornet Shehwan Gathering | Liberalism | Officially Secular, mainly Maronite Christian |
File:Alistiklal.jpg | Independence Movement | Harakit al-istiklal حركة الإسنقلال | Al istiklal | Nayla Moawad | Currently has 2 MPs. Part of Qornet Shehwan Gathering | Feudalism | Mainly Maronite Christian |
N/A | Independents within Qornet Shehwan Gathering | - | - | - | Currently have 4 MPs, namely Samir Frangieh ,Solange Gemayel, Butros Harb and Ghassan Tueni | - | - |
N/A | Tripoli Bloc | Al-takatol al-trabolsi التكتل الطرابلصي | - | Mohamed Safadi | Currently has 4 MPs, one christian and 3 muslim | - | - |
File:Drm-tajaddod.jpg | Democratic Renewal | Harakat al-tajaddod al-democraty حركة التجدد الدمقراطي | DRM | Nassib Lahoud | Currently has 1 MP | Reformism | Secular |
File:Lebanese democratic left movement.jpg | Democratic Left | Harakat Al-Yassar Al-Democraty حركة اليصار الدمقراطي | DL | Elias Attallah | Currently has 1 MP | Left-wing | Secular |
File:Adl.gif | Armenian Democratic Liberal Party - Ramgavar | Hizb al-ramgavar حزب الرمغفار | ADL | - | Currently has 1 lebanese MP | Liberalism | Armenian Gregorian |
File:Sedahoka.gif | Social Democrat Hunchakian Party | Hizb al-hunshak حزب الهنشق | Henshak | - | Currently has 1 MP | Socialist | Armenian Orthodox |
File:National-bloc-party.jpg | Lebanese National Bloc | Hizb al-kitla al-wataniya حزب الكتلة الوطنية | NB | Carlos Eddé | Currently has no MPs | Lebanese nationalism | Maronite Christian |
File:Jamaa.gif | Islamic Group | Al-jamaa Al-Islamiya الجماعة الإسلامية | JI | Assaad Harmouch | Currently has no MP | Islamist | Sunni Muslim |
File:FLAM.jpg | Free Lebanese Armenian Movement | Harakit Al-Lubnaniyin Al-Arman Al-Ahrar حركة اللبنانيين الأرمن الأحرار | FLAM | - | Currently has no MP | Liberalism | Armenian Orthodox |
File:Loubnanouna.jpg | Loubnanouna Alliance | Helf Loubnanouna حلف لبناننا | Loubnanouna | Sammy Gemayel | This party is an extention of the kataeb in colleges | Conservatism, Lebanese nationalism | Maronite Christian |
File:Salam-flag.jpg | Lebanese Peace Party | Hizb Assalam Al-Lubnany حزب السلام اللبناني | LPP | Roger Edde | Currently has 0 MP | - | Secular |
File:Leb-opposition.gifMarch 8 Alliance or Opposition | |||||||
File:Tayyarlogoarabic.gif | Free Patriotic Movement | Tayyar Al-Watani Al- Horr التيار الوطني الحرّ | FPM | Michel Aoun | Currently has 14 MPs | Centrist | Officially secular; Traditionally Christian, with growing Muslim support |
File:Flag of Hezbollah.svg | Hezbollah | Hizbullah حزب الله | HA | Hassan Nasrallah | Currently has 14 MPs | Islamism | Shi'a Muslim but enjoys support of different sects |
El Marada | Tayyar Al-Marada تيار المردة | MM | Suleiman Frangieh, Jr. | Currently has no MP | Feudalism | Mainly Maronite Christian, with considerable Muslim support | |
Amal Movement | Harakat Amal حركة أمل | AMAL | Nabih Berri | Currently has 15 MPs | Islamism | Shi'a Muslim | |
File:Ssnpflag.gif | Syrian Social Nationalist Party | al-Hizb al-Quami al-Ijtima'i al-Suri الحزب القومي السوري الإجتماعي | SSNP | Ali Qanso | Currently has 2 MPs | Syrian Nationalism | Secular |
N/A | Independents within the opposition | - | - | Hussein el-Husseini | Currently has 1 MP | - | - |
Ba'ath Arab Socialist Party | Hizb al-baas al-arabi al-'ishtiraki حزب البعث العربي الإشتراكي | BAATH | Assem Qanso | Currently has 1 MP | Socialism;Arab Nationalism | secular | |
File:Kataeb-flag.gif | Kataeb party opposition faction | - | Kataeb | Karim Pakradoni | Currently has 1 MP | Nationalism | Christian |
N/A | Skaff Bloc or Popular Bloc | التكتل الشعبي | - | Elias Skaff | Currently has 4 MPs | Feudalism | Greek Catholic Christian |
N/A | Murr Bloc or North Metn Bloc | تكتل المتن الشمالي | - | Michel Murr | Currently has 1 MP | Feudalist | Greek Orthodox christian |
File:Arf logo.jpg | Armenian Revolutionary Federation | Tashnag حزب الطشنق | ARF | Hovig Mkhitarian | Currently has 2 MP Hagop Pakradounian,George Kasardji | Socialism | Armenian orthodox |
N/A | Christian Democratic Party | Hizb al-Massihi al-Democraty حزب المسيحي الدمقراطي | CDP | Neemtallah Abi Nasr | Currently has 1 MP | - | Christian |
File:Ldp flag.gif | Lebanese Democratic Party | Hizb al-lubnany al-democraty حزب اللبنلني الدمقراطي | LDP | Talal Arslan | Currently has no MP | Feudalism | Officialy Secular, mainly druz |
File:Tanzeem Flag.jpg | Popular Nasserite Organization | Al-Tanzim Al-shaabi al-nassiri التنظيم الشعبي الناصري | NPO | Ossama Saad | Currently has 1 MP | Nasserism; Socialism; Arab nationalism | sunni muslim |
File:Lebanese Communist Party Flag.png | Lebanese Communist Party | Al-Hizb al-shooyoo'i al-lubnany الحزب الشيوعي الليناني | LCP | Khaled Hadadi | Currently has no MP | Communism | Secular |
File:Hizb el Taharor Flag.jpg | Arab Liberation Party | Hizb Al-Taharor Al-Arabi حزب التحرر العربي | ALP | Omar Karami | Currently has no MP | Feudalism | Sunni Muslim |
File:Muratibun.PNG | Movement of Independent Nasserists - al-Murabitun | Harakat Al-nassiriyin Al-Mustakilin - Al mourabitoon حركة الناصريين المستقلين - المرابطون | INM | Ibrahim Koleilat | Currently has no MP | Nasserism;Arab Nationalism | Mainly Sunni muslim, but some shi'a and druz support |
Worker's League | Rabitat Al-Shaghila رابطة الشغياة | WL | Zaher Khatib | Currently has no MP | Communist; Arab Nationalism | Secular | |
File:Harakit-el-shaab.jpg | People's Movement | Harakat Al-Shaab حركة الشعب | SHAAB | Najah Wakim | Currently has no MP | Nasserism; Socialism; Arab Nationalism | Secular |
N/A | Nasserite Unification movement | Al-Haraka Al-Tawhidiya Al-Nassiriya الحركة التوحيدية الناصرية | NUM | - | Currently has no MP | Nasserism | Secular |
N/A | Solidarity Party | Hizb Al-Tadamon حزب التضامن | TADAMON | Emile Rahme | Currently has no MP | - | Chtistian |
N/A | Islamic Labor Front | Jebhat Al-Aamal Al-islamy | - | Fathi Yakan | - | Islamism | Sunni Muslim |
File:Tayyar-tawhid.jpg | Lebanese Unification Movement | Tayyar Al-Tawhid Al-Lubnany تيار النوحيد اللبناني | UC | Wiam Wahhab | Currently has no MP | Arab Nationalism | Officially Secular Mainly Druz |
File:Popular-congress-leb.gif | Lebanese Popular Congress | Mo'tamar Al-Shaabi Al-Lubnany المؤتمر الشعبي اللبناني | LPC | Kamal Chatilla | Currently has no MP | Nasserism | Sunni Muslim |
File:ADP-leb.gif | Arab Democratic Party | Al-Hizb Al-Aarabi Al-Democraty الحزب العربي الدمقراطي | ADP | Ali Eid | Currently has no MP | Feudalism | Alawite Muslim |
File:Waad-party.jpg | Promise Party or National Secular Democratic Party | Hizb Al-Waad حزب الوعد | NSDP | Gina Hobeika | Currently has no MP | Secularism | Officially secular; Mainly Maronite Christian |
File:AICP-logo.gif | Islamic Charitable Projects Association | Jam'iyat Al-mashari' Al-Khayriya Al-Islamiya Al-Ahbash الأحباش | ICPA | Abdallah al-Harari | Currently has no MP | Islamist | sunni muslim |
N/A | Democratic Socialist Party | Hizb Al-Ishtiraki Al-Democraty الحزب الإشتراكي الدمقراطي | DSPL | Kamal Assad | Currently has no MP | Socialism | Officially Secular, but mainly [shi'a] muslim |
File:Tajamo3 Flag.jpg | Federation of Popular Leagues and Committees | Tajamo' Al-Lujan wal-rawabit Al-Shaabiya تجمع اللجان و الروابط الشعبية | FPLC | Maan Bashour | Currently has no MP | Nasserism; Arabic Nationalism | Officially Secular, mainly sunni muslim |
N/A | Socialist Arab Union | Al-Ittihad al-ishtiraki al-arabi الإتحاد الإشتراكي العربي | SAU | - | Currently has no MP | Socialist | Secular |
File:Itti7ad-flag.JPG | Union Party | Hizb al-Ittihad حزب الإتحاد | UP | Abelrahim Mrad | Currently has no MP | Nasserism | Officially Secular, Mainly sunni muslim |
File:Muslim-Ulama.jpg | Union of Muslim Ulama | Tajamo' Al-ulama Al-Muslimun تجمع العلماء المسلمون | UMU | - | This is more like a gathering than a party | Islamist | All Muslim Sects |
N/A | Democratic Nasserite Movement | Harakat Al-Nassiriyin Al-Democratiyoon حركة الناصريين الدمقراطيون | DNM | - | Currently has no MP | Nasserism | sunni muslim |
N/A | Lebanese-Arab Struggle Movement | Harakat Al-Nidal Al-Arabi Al-Lubnani حركة النضال العربي اللبناني | LASM | Faysal Dawood | Currently has no MP | Arabism | Officially Secular, Mainly Druz |
File:Alawiteyouth.jpg | Alawite Youth Movement | Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Alawi حركة الشباب العلوي | AYM | Rifaat Eid | Currently has no MP | Feudalism | Alawite Muslim |
File:UJDL.jpg | Lebanese Democratic Youth Union | Ittihad Al-Shabab Al-Democraty Al-Lubnany إتحاد الشباب الدمقراطي اللبنلني | UJDL | - | Affiliated to the Lebanese Communist Party | Communist | Secular |
File:TAWHID-ISLAMI-Logo.gif | Islamic Unification Movement | Harakat Al-Tawhid Al-Islamy حركة التوحيد الإسلامي | IUM | Said Shaaban | Currently has no MP | Islamism | Sunni Muslim |
File:Hiwar-flag.jpg | National Dialogue Party | Hizb Al-Hiwar Al-Watani حزب الحوار الوطني | NDP | Fouad Makhzoumi | Currently has no MP | Capitalism | Mainly sunni Muslim |
N/A | Akar Popular Assembly | Tajamo' Al-Shaabi Al-Aakari | - | Wajih Baarini | - | Feudalism | Sunni Muslim |
Other Lebanese parties | |||||||
Comming soon | Congress Party | Hizb Al-Mu'tamar | - | Hassan Hachem | - | - | Mainly Shi'a Muslim |
N/A | Glory Movement | Harakat Majd | - | Najib Mikati | - | Capitalism | Mainly sunni muslim |
N/A | Islamic Gathering Movement | Harakt al-tajamo' al-islamy | - | - | - | Islamic | sunni muslim |
File:Ldm-logo.gif | Lebanese Democratic Movement | Tayyar Lubnan Al-Democraty | - | Jack Tamer | - | Futurist | Secular |
N/A | Lebanese Movement | Harakit Lubnan | - | Nabil Mshantaf | - | - | - |
N/A | Lebanese Option Gathering | - | - | - | - | - | Secular |
N/A | Lebanese People's Front | Jebhat al-shaab al-lubnany | - | Joseph Haddad | - | - | - |
N/A | Lebanese Republican Party | Hizb Al-Jumhury Al-Lubnany | - | Imad Jaara | - | Liberalism | - |
File:Najjadeh.JPG | Najjadeh Party | Hizb Al-Nejjadeh | - | Mustapha Hakim | Party used to enjoy big popularity among sunnis | Arab Nationalism | Sunni muslim |
- | National Progressive Movement | Harakat Al-Takadom Al-Watani | - | - | Founder was Jamil Lahoud, Pr.Emile lahoud's father | - | Secular |
File:United-Phoenician.gif | The United Phoenician Party | Hizb Al-qawmi Al-Finiki | - | - | - | Phoenician Nationalism | - |
File:Finiki.gif | Phoenician Party | Hizb Al-Finiki | - | - | - | Phoenician Nationalism | Christian |
N/A | National Labor Movement | Hizb Al-Aamal Al-Watani | - | - | - | Communism | Secular |
N/A | The reformist movement in the Progressive Socialist Party | Al-Haraka Al-Islahiya fil Hizb Al-takadomi Al-ishtiraki | - | Ra'ed Sayegh | - | Socialism | Secular |
N/A | Islamic Jihad Movement (Lebanon) | Harakat Al-Jihad Al-Islamy | - | - | - | Islamism | sunni muslimt |
File:New-lebanese.jpg | New Lebanese Movement | Harakat Al-Lubnaniyin Al-Joddod | - | - | - | Secularism | Secular |
File:Almustakilloon.jpg | The Independents | Al-Mustakiloon | - | - | - | - | Secular |
File:Repubreform.GIF | Republican Reform Party | Hizb Al-Islahi Al-Jumhuri | - | Charles Chidiac | - | [[Liberalism] | Secular |
N/A | Arab Socialist Party | Hizb Al-Aarabi Al-Ishtiraki | - | - | - | Socialism | Secular |
N/A | Lebanese Labor Party | Hizb Al-Aamal el Lubnany | - | - | - | communism | Secular |
N/A | Democratic Labor Party | Hizb Al-'ommali Al-Democraty | - | Elias Bou Rizk | socialism | Secular | |
N/A | Democratic Secular Party | Hizb Al-'elmani Al-Democraty | - | - | - | secularism | Secular |
File:Lebanese-ecology-party.gif | Lebanese Ecology Party | Hizb Al-Bi'a Al-lubnany | - | - | - | ecology | Secular |
N/A | National Youth Party | Hizb Al-Chabab Al-Watani | - | Ahmad Karami | - | - | Secular |
N/A | Popular Democratic Party | Hizb Al-shaabi Al-Democraty | - | - | - | - | Secular |
File:Orthodoxpartyleb.jpg | The Orthodox Party | Hizb Al-Orthodox | - | - | - | - | Greek Orthodox |
File:Shurayalogo.jpg | Shuraya Party | Hizb Al-Shuraya | - | - | - | Assyrianism | Assyrian |
100px | Liberation Party | Hizb ut-Tahrir | - | - | - | Islamism | sunni muslim |
N/A | Party of Socialist Revolution | Hizb Al-Thawra Al-Ishtirakiya | - | - | - | Maoist communism | Secular |
File:Badil.gif | Free Alternative | Al Badil Al Taharouri | - | - | - | Anarchism | Secular |
N/A | National Party | Hizb Al-Watani | - | - | - | - | Secular |
N/A | Universal party | Hizb Al Umami | - | - | - | Communism | Secular |
N/A | Lebanese arab movement | Harakat Lebnan Al-Aarabi | - | - | - | Nasserism | sunni muslim |
File:Jebha.gif | Libery Front | Jebhat Al-horriya | - | Fouad Abou Nader | Also knows as Koudama el Qoowat | Fashism | Christian |
File:LebNationalLeague.JPG | Lebanese National League | Al-Rabita Al-Wataniya Al-Lubnaniya | - | Wajeb Kanso | - | Left-wing | Secular |
File:Saraya-logo.jpg | Lebanese Resistance Brigades | Saraya el moqawama | - | - | Extention of Hizbollah | - | Secular |
File:Aramic-dem-org.gif | Armaic Democratic Organisation | Tanzim Al-Arami Al-Democraty | - | - | - | - | Armaic |
N/A | Nasserite Nationalist Organisation | Tanzim Al-Qawmi Al-Nassiri | - | - | - | Nasserism; Arab Nationalism | Secular |
N/A | Justice and Development movement | Tayyar el 'adel wal Tanmiya | - | - | - | - | Secular |
N/A | Cedars Movement | Tayyar al-Arz | - | - | - | - | Secular |
File:Civil-society-movement.jpg | Civil society Movement | Tayyar Al-mojtama' Al-madani | - | Gregoire Haddad | - | Secularism | Secular |
N/A | Southern Christian Assembly | Tajamo' Al-Massihi Al-janoubi | - | - | - | Christian conservatism | Christian |
Kurdish parties | |||||||
File:KDP-leb.jpg | Kurdish Democratic Party | Hizb Al-Kurdi Al-Democraty | - | - | - | - | Kurdish |
N/A | Razkari Party | Hizb Al-Razkari | - | - | - | - | Kurdish |
Forbidden Parties | |||||||
File:Goclogo.gif | Guardians of the Cedars | Hizb Horras Al-Arz | - | Etienne Sakr | - | Fashism | Christian |
N/A | Regressive Isolationist Party | Hizb Al-Raj'i Al-I'tizali | - | - | - | - | - |
N/A | Islamic Amal Movement | Harakat Amal Al-Islamiya | - | Sobi Toufaily | - | Islamism | Shi'a Muslim |
Defunct parties | |||||||
N/A | Lebanese Resistance Movement (Tanzim) | 'Harakat Al-Moqawama Al-Lubnaniya (Tanzim)' | - | - | The Party dissapeared after it's Militia's disbanding | Christian Conservatism | Maronite Christian |
File:Tanzim-logo.JPG | Lebanese Youth Movement (MKG) | Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Lubnaniya | - | Bachir Maroun | - | Christian Conservatism | Maronite Christian |
N/A | Constitutional Bloc Party | Hizb Al-Kitla Al-Doostooriya | - | Khalil El-Khoury | This party was mainly created by Pr.Bchara El-Khoury to oppose [[Emile Edde's National Bloc During the post-independence period | Feudalism | Secular |
N/A | The Great Lebanese Labor Party | Al-Hizb Al-'omali Al-lubnany Al-Kabir | - | - | This party existed during the French Mandate of Lebanon | Communism | Secular |
N/A | Deprived Movement | Harakat Al-Mahroomin | - | Musa as-sadr | Ancestor of Amal | - | Secular |
Arab Nationalists Movement | 'Harakat Al-qawmiyin Al-'arab' | - | - | - | Arab Nationalism | Secular | |
File:24octobermov.JPG | 24 October Movement | Harakat 24 Techrin | - | - | Had Big military actions in the north during the two year war, but mysteriously dissapeared after that. | Islamism | Sunni Muslim |
File:Moonazamit.JPG | Organization of Communist Action | Moonazamat Al-'Amal Al-shooyoo'i | - | - | Dissolved into the LCP | Communism; Arab Nationalism | Secular |
N/A | Revolutionary Communist Group | Tajamo' Al-Thawri Al-Shooyo'i | - | - | - | Communism | Secular |
Ministers (24) |
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National Assembly (128) |
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See also
- Index of political parties to browse parties by name
- List of political parties to browse parties by country
- List of political parties by ideology to browse parties by name
- Membership of internationals to browse parties by membership of internationals.