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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.
Since 2005, and after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic hariri, the political scene has become very polarized, with most major political parties and movements becoming part of one of two big rival alliances, the March 8 Alliance and the March 14 Alliance. However there are also a number of independent Lebanese politicians who are not specifically part of any of the two, but considered "independent" (a third force) loosely allied as a group to supporting the incumbent Lebanese President, now Michel Suleiman.
Parties This section's factual accuracy is disputed. Please help to ensure that disputed facts are reliably sourced. See the relevant discussion on the talk page. (November 2008)
This section may be in need of reorganization to comply with Wikipedia's layout guidelines. Please help by editing the article to make improvements to the overall structure. (November 2008)
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 (English) Name (Arabic) Acronym Leader or Chairman Number of seats in 2009 Political Position Sect or ethnic group
March 8 Alliance
Free Patriotic Movement At-Tayyar al-Watani al- Horr
FPM Michel Aoun Currently has 18 MPs Centrist Officially secular; Traditionally Christian
Amal Movement Harakat Amal
Full name: Afwaj al-Muqāwama al-Lubnāniyya
Amal Nabih Berri Currently has 13 MPs Conservatism Shiite Muslim
Hezbollah Hizbullah
Hassan Nasrallah Currently has 11 MPs Islamic Socialism Shiite Muslim
Progressive Socialist Party Hizb al-Taqadummi al-Ishtiraki
PSP Walid Jumblatt Currently has 11 MPs Officially Socialism Officially secular; Mainly Druze
El Marada Tayyar Al-Marada
MM Suleiman Frangieh, Jr. Currently has 3 MPs Christian nationalism Mainly Maronite Christian
Glory Movement Harakat Majd
Najib Mikati Currently has 2 MPs Centrist Mainly Sunni Muslim
Syrian Social Nationalist Party Al-Hizb al-Suri al-Qawmi al-Ijtima'i
SSNP Assaad Hardan Currently has 2 MPs Syrian nationalism Secular with support across all the communities
Lebanese Democratic Party Al-Hizb al-Dimoqrati al-Lubnāni
LDP Prince Talal Arslan Currently has 4 MPs Conservatism Officially Secular, mainly Druze
Baath Party Assem Qanso Currently has 2 MP Socialism;Arab Nationalism secular
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Tashnag
Hovig Mkhitarian Currently has 2 MP Socialism-Democracy-Nationalism Armenian-Secular
Solidarity Party Hizb at-Tadamon
Tadamon Emile Rahme Currently has 1 MPs - Christian
Islamic Action Front Kamel Rifaii Currently has 1 MPs Islamism Sunni Muslim
Popular Bloc or Skaff Bloc At-Takattol al-Shaa'bi
Elias Skaff Currently has no MPs Feudalism Greek Catholic Christian
Lebanese Republican Party Al-Hizb al-Jumhury al-lubnāni
Imad Jaara (Geara) Liberal Secular, anti-confessionalist
Christian Democratic Party Al-Hizb al-Massihi al-Dimoqrati
Neemtallah Abi Nasr Currently has no MPs - Christian
Popular Nasserite Organization Al-Tanzim al-Shaabi al-Nassiri
Ossama Saad Currently has no MP Nasserism; Socialism; Arab nationalism Sunni Muslim
Lebanese Communist Party Al-Hizb al-Shooyoo'i al-Lubnāny
Khaled Hadadi Currently has no MP Communism Secular
Arab Liberation Party Hizb at-Taharror al-Arabi
Omar Karami Currently has no MP Feudalism Sunni Muslim
Movement of Independent Nasserites - al-Murabitoun Harakat an-Nassiriyin al-Mustakilleen -
Al Mourabitoon
Ibrahim Kulaylat Currently has no MP Nasserism;Arab Nationalism Mainly Sunni Muslim, but some Shiite and Druze support
Worker's League Rabitat Al-Shaghila
Zaher Khatib Currently has no MP Communist; Arab Nationalism Secular
People's Movement Harakat Al-Shaab
Najah Wakim Currently has no MP Nasserism; Socialism; Arab Nationalism Secular
Nasserite Unification movement Al-Haraka al-Tawhidiyya an-Nassiriyya
Currently has no MP Nasserism Secular
Islamic Labor Front Jebhat al-Aamal al-Islamy
Fathi Yakan - Islamism Sunni Muslim
Lebanese Unification Movement Tayyar at-Tawhid al-Lubnany
Wiam Wahhab Currently has no MP Arab Nationalism Officially Secular, Mainly Druze
Kamal Chatilla Currently has no MP Nasserism Sunni Muslim
Arab Democratic Party Al-Hizb al-Arabi al-Dimoqraty
Ali Eid Currently has no MP Pan-Arab nationalism and radical socialism Alawite Muslim
Promise Party or National Secular Democratic Party Hizb Al-Waad
Gina Hobeika Currently has no MP Secularism Officially secular; Mainly Maronite Christian
Islamic Charitable Projects Association Jam'iyat
al-Mashari'
al-Khayriya
al-Islamiya
Al-Ahbash
Abdallah al-Harari Currently has no MP Islamism Sunni Muslim
Federation of Popular Leagues and Committees Tajamo' Al-Lijan wal Rawabit al-Shaabiya
Maan Bashour Currently has no MP Nasserism; Arabic Nationalism Officially Secular, mainly Sunni Muslim
Socialist Arab Union Al-Ittihad al-Ishtiraki al-Arabi
Omar Harb Currently has no MP Socialist Secular
Union Party Hizb al-Ittihad
Abdelrahim Mrad Currently has no MP Nasserism Officially Secular, Mainly Sunni Muslim
Union of Muslim Ulama Tajamo' al-Ulamaa' al-Muslimin UMU - Gathering rather than a party Islamist All Muslim sects
Democratic Nasserite Movement Harakat al-Nassiriyin al-Dimocratiyoon
Currently has no MP Nasserism Sunni Muslim
Lebanese Arab Struggle Movement Harakat an-Nidal al-Arabi al-Lubnani
Faysal Dawood Currently has no MP Arabism Officially Secular, Mainly Druze
Alawite Youth Movement Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Alawi
Rifaat Eid Currently has no MP Extension of the Arab Democratic Party Alawite Muslim
Lebanese Democratic Youth Union Ittihad al-Shabab al-Dimoqraty al-Lubnany
Affiliated to the Lebanese Communist Party Communist Secular
Islamic Unification Movement Harakat Al-Tawhid Al-Islamy
Said Shaaban Currently has no MP Islamism Sunni Muslim
Akkar Popular Assembly At-Tajamo' al-Shaabi al-Aakari
Wajih Baarini - Feudalism Sunni Muslim
National Youth Party Hizb al-Shabab al-Watani
Ahmad Karami - - Secular
March 14 Alliance
Future Movement Tayyar Al Mustaqbal
Saad Hariri Currently has 26 MPs Capitalism / Nationalism Officially secular; Mainly Sunni Muslim.
Independents within March 14 alliance - - - Currently has 13 MPs -
Lebanese Forces al-Quwat al-Lubnāniyya
Samir Geagea Currently has 8 MPs Lebanese Christian nationalism Officially secular; mainly Maronite Christian.
Lebanese Social Democratic Party or Kataeb al-Kataeb al-Lubnāniyya
Kataeb Amin Gemayel Currently has 5 MPs Lebanese Christian nationalism, Federalism Mainly Maronite Christian
Social Democrat Hunchakian Party Hizb al-Henchag
Currently has 2 MP Socialist Armenian Secular
National Liberal Party Hizb al-Wataniyyin al-Ahrar
Dory Chamoun Currently has 1 MPs. Part of Qornet Shehwan Gathering Liberalism Maronite Christian
Democratic Left Harakat Al-Yassar ll-Dimoqrati
Elias Attallah Currently has 1 MP Left-wing Secular
Islamic Group Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya
Assaad Harmouch Currently has 1 MP Islamist Sunni Muslim
Armenian Democratic Liberal Party - Ramgavar Hizb al-Ramgavar
Hagop Kassardjian Currently has 1 Lebanese MP Liberalism Armenian Secular
Independence Movement Harakat Al-Istiklal
Al Haraka Nayla Moawad, Michel Moawad, Jawad Boulos and Youssef El Douaihy Currently has no MPs. Part of Qornet Shehwan Gathering Lebanese nationalism Officially secular; Mainly Maronite Christian
Democratic Renewal Harakat al-Tajaddod al-Dimoqrati
Nassib Lahoud Currently has no MP Reformism Secular
Lebanese National Bloc Hizb al-Kitla al-Wataniya
Carlos Eddé Currently has no MPs Lebanese nationalism Officially secular; mainly Maronite Christian
Free Lebanese Armenian Movement Harakit Al-Lubnaniyin Al-Arman Al-Ahrar
Currently has no MP Liberalism Armenian Secular
Free Shiite Movement Tayyar el-Shi'i el-Horr
Mohammad el Hajj Hassan Currently has no MP Islamism Shiite Muslim
Lebanese Peace Party Hizb as-Salām al-Lubnāny
Roger Edde Currently has 0 MP - Secular
Muahedeen Group Jamaat AL-Muahedeen
Khaled Alhassanieh Currently has 0 MPs Tawhid, Mainly Druze
Syriac Union Party Hizb al Ittihad al Siryāni
Ibrahim Mrad Mainly Syriac Christian
Shuraya Party Hizb Al-Shurāya - - - Assyrianism Assyrian
Other parties in Lebanon
Liberation Party Hizb ut-Tahrir
Ata Abu Rashta - Islamism Muslim
National Dialogue Party Hizb Al-Hiwar Al-Watani
Fouad Makhzoumi Currently has no MP Capitalism Officially Secular Mainly Sunni Muslim
Green Party of Lebanon Hezb al Khodor al-Lubnani
Philip Skaf Currently has no MP Green, Nationalist, Conservatism, Secular / Environmentalist
Aramean Democratic Organisation At-Tanzim al-Arami al-Dimoqraty
Gabi Gallo Currently has no MP Nationalist, Conservatism, Right wing Aramean Christians
Democratic Socialist Party Hizb Al-Ishtiraki Al-Dimoqraty Kamel Asaad Currently has no MP Socialism Officially Secular, but mainly Shiite Muslim
Islamic Gathering Movement Harakat at-Tajammo' al-Islamy Islamic Sunni Muslim
Lebanese Democratic Movement Tayyar Lubnan al-Dimoqraty
Jack Tamer - Social democracy Secular
Lebanese Movement Harakat Lubnan Nabil Mshantaf - - -
Lebanese Option Gathering Tayyar al-Intimaa' al-Lubnani
Ahmad al-Asaad Currently has no MP Liberalism Officially Secular but mainly Shiite Muslim
Lebanese People's Front Jabhat al-Shaab al-Lubnany Joseph Haddad - - -
Liberty Front Jabhat al Horriya
Fouad Abou Nader Also known as Lebanese Forces Resistance, the Lebanese Christian Resistance Center right Officially secular; Traditionally Christian
Najjadeh Party Hizb Al-Nejjadeh
Mustapha Hakim Big following among Sunni and other Muslims in the 1940s, 50s and 60s Arab Nationalism Sunni Muslim
National Progressive Movement Harakat al-Taqaddom al-Watani
Founder was Jamil Lahoud, Pr.Émile Lahoud's father - Secular
The United Phoenician Party Hizb al-Itihad al-Finiki
Cadmus Hanna - Phoenician Nationalism Secular
Phoenician Party Al-Hizb al-Finiki
Stefano El Douaihy - Federalism Secular
National Labor Movement Hizb al-Aamal al-Watani Communism Secular
The reformist movement in the Progressive Socialist Party Al-Haraka al-Islahiya fil Hizb at-Takadomi
al-Ishtiraki Ra'ed Sayegh - Socialism Secular
Islamic Jihad Movement (Lebanon) Harakat al-Jihad al-Islamy slamism Sunni Muslim
New Lebanese Movement Harakat al-Lubnaniyin al-Jodod
Danny Abdel Khalek - Secularism Secular
The Independents[citation needed] Al-Mustakiloon Secular
Republican Reform Party Al-Hizb al-Islahi al-Jumhuri
Charles Chidiac - Liberalism Secular
Arab Socialist Party Al-Hizb al-Arabi al-Ishtiraki Socialism Secular
Lebanese Labor Party Hizb al-Aamal al-Lubnany communism Secular
Democratic Labor Party Al-Hizb al-'Ommali al-Dimoqraty
Elias Abu Rizk socialism Secular
Democratic Secular Party Al-Hizb al-'Ilmani al-Dimoqraty secularism Secular
Lebanese Ecology Party Hizb al-Bi'a al-Lubnany ecology Secular
Popular Democratic Party Al-Hizb al-Shaabi al-Dimoqraty Secular
The Orthodox Party[citation needed] Hizb al-Orthodox Greek Orthodox
Party of Socialist Revolution Hizb al-Thawra al-Ishtirakiyya Maoist Communism Secular
Free Alternative Al Badil Al Taharouri Anarchism Secular
National Party Al-Hizb al-Watani Secular
Universal Party[citation needed] Al Hizb Al Umami Communism Secular
Lebanese Arab Movement Harakat Lubnan al-Arabi Nasserism Sunni Muslim
Lebanese National League Al-Rabita al-Wataniya al-Lubnaniyya
Wajeb Kanso - Left-wing Secular
Lebanese Resistance Brigades Saraya al-Moqawama al-Lubnaniyya
Extension of Hizbollah - Secular
Nasserite Nationalist Organisation At-Tanzim al-Qawmi an-Nassiri
Nasserism; Arab Nationalism Secular
Justice and Development movement Tayyar el 'Adel wal Tanmiya Secular
Cedars Movement Tayyar al-Arz
Organization of Communist Action Moonazzamat al-'Amal al-Shuyoo'i
Ibrahim Muhsen Ibrahim Muhsen - Communism; Arab Nationalism Secular
Revolutionary Communist Group At-Tajamo' Al-Shuyoo'i Al-Thawri
Camil Dagher - Communism; Trotskyism Secular
Leftist Assembly for Change At-Tajamo' Al-Yasari Min Ajli Al Taghyeer
Revolutionary Socialism; Trotskyism; Leninism Secular
Civil society Movement Tayyar al-Mojtama' al-Madani
Gregoire Haddad - Secularism Secular
Southern Christian Assembly At-Tajamo' al-Massihi al-Janoubi Christian conservatism Christian
Kurdish Democratic Party Al-Hizb Al-Kurdi Al-Dimoqraty Kurdish
Razkari Party Hizb Razkari Kurdish
Lebanese secular movement[citation needed] Al-haraka Al-3oulmaniyya Al-loubnaniyya
Jad Moukarzel - Secularism Secular
Forbidden parties
Guardians of the Cedars Hizb Horras al-Arz
Etienne Sakr - Phoenician Nationalism, conservatism, far-right Multiconfessional, but mainly Christian
Regressive Isolationist Party[citation needed] Al-Hizb Al-Raj'i Al-I'tizali
Islamic Amal Movement Harakat Amal Al-Islamiya
Sobhi Toufaily - Islamism Shi'a Muslim
Defunct parties
Lebanese Resistance Movement (Tanzim) Harakat al-Moqawama al-Lubnaniya (Tanzim)
The Party disappeared after its militias disbanding Christian Conservatism Maronite Christian
Lebanese Youth Movement (MKG) Harakat al-Shabab al-Lubnaniya
Bachir Maroun - Christian Conservatism Maronite Christian
Constitutional Bloc Party Hizb al-Kutla al-Doostooriya
Khalil El-Khoury Mainly created by Pr. Bchara El-Khoury to oppose Emile Edde's National Bloc during the post-independence period Feudalism Secular
The Great Lebanese Labor Party Al-Hizb al-'Ommali al-Lubnany al-Kabir
This party existed during the French Mandate of Lebanon Communism Secular
Deprived Movement Harakat al-Mahroomin
Musa al-Sadr Ancestor of Amal - Secular
Arab Nationalists Movement Harakat al-Qawmiyyin al-'Arab Arab Nationalism Secular
24 October Movement Harakat 24 Techrin
Had big military actions in the North in the Two-year war. Disappeared later. Islamism Sunni Muslim
Social Democratic Youth Al-Shabab al-Ijtimai al-Dimoqraty
Committee of 21 members None official party founded after 2002 elections, by youth groups for a non hereditary sectarian Lebanon. Currently has no MP Social, Democratic Secular
Political blocs in Lebanon
Government - March 8 Alliance (29 MPs) Amal Movement (13) - Hezbollah (12) - Lebanese Democratic Party (4) - Syrian Social Nationalist Party (2) - Baath Arab Socialist Party (2)
Government - Change and Reform bloc (27 MPs) Free Patriotic Movement (19) - Marada Movement (3) - Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Tashnag) (2) - Solidarity Party (1) - Skaff Bloc
Government - Others (15 MPs) Progressive Socialist Party (11) - Glory Movement (Harakat Majd) (2) - Lebanese Communist Party - People's Movement - Arab Democratic Party
Opposition - March 14 Alliance (57 MPs) Future Movement (26) - Lebanese Forces (8) - Kataeb Party (5) - Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (Hunchak Party) (2) - National Liberal Party (1) - Independence Movement - Democratic Left (1) - Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar Party) (1) - Islamic Group (1) - Democratic Renewal Movement - Tripoli Bloc - Lebanese National Bloc - Free Shia Movement
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