List of political parties in Lebanon
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Lebanon |
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Lebanon has numerous political parties, usually with sectarian character. 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 at the time, Michel Suleiman, though now there are no clear indications of an autonomous movement other than an informal street activism since the summer of 2015. There are also some other independent groups that have not allied with any of the sectarian figures and are informally organised or linked to environmental activism and anti-corruption protest movements.
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 (English) | Name (Arabic) | Acronym | Leader or Chairman | Number of seats in 2009 | Political Position | Sect or ethnic group | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free Patriotic Movement | At-Tayyar al-Watani al-
Horr |
FPM | Gebran Bassil | Currently has 20 MPs | Centrist | Officially secular; Traditionally Christian | ||
Amal Movement | Harakat Amal Full name: Afwaj al-Muqāwama al-Lubnāniyya حركة أمل [أفواج المقاومة اللبنانية] |
Amal أمل | Nabih Berri | Currently has 13 MPs | Conservatism | Shiite Muslim | ||
Hezbollah | Hizbullah حزب الله |
HA | Hassan Nasrallah | Currently has 13 MPs | Shia Islamist | Shiite Muslim | ||
El Marada | Tayyar Al-Marada تيار المردة |
MM | Suleiman Frangieh, Jr. | Currently has 3 MPs | Liberalism | Mainly Maronite Christian | ||
Majd Movement | Harakat Majd حركة مجد |
- | Najib Mikati | Currently has 2 MPs | Centrist | Mainly Sunni Muslim | ||
Syrian Social Nationalist Party | Al-Hizb al-Suri al-Qawmi al-Ijtima'i الحزب السوري القومي الإجتماعي |
SSNP | Assaad Hardan | Currently has 2 MPs | Syrian nationalism, Left-wing nationalism | Secular | ||
Lebanese Democratic Party | Al-Hizb al-Dimoqrati al-Lubnāni الحزب الديمقراطي اللبناني |
LDP | Prince Talal Arslan | Currently has 1 MPs | Conservatism | Officially Secular, mainly Druze | ||
Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party | Assem Qanso | Currently has 2 MP | Socialism;Arab Nationalism | secular | ||||
Armenian Revolutionary Federation | Tashnag حزب الطاشناق الإتحاد الثوري الأرمني (طاشناكتسوتيون) |
ARF Հայ Յեղափոխական Դաշնակցութիւն (ՀՅԴ) |
Hagop Khatcherian | Currently has 2 MP | Social democracy Armenian nationalism | Armenian-Secular | ||
Solidarity Party | Hizb at-Tadamon حزب التضامن |
Tadamon | Emile Rahme | Currently has 1 MPs | - | Christian | ||
Popular Bloc or Skaff Bloc | At-Takattol al-Shaa'bi التكتّل الشعبي |
- | Elias Skaff | Currently has no MPs | Feudalism | Greek Catholic Christian | ||
Lebanese Republican Party | Al-Hizb al-Jumhury al-lubnāni الحزب الجمهوري اللبناني |
PRL حجل | Imad Jaara (Geara) | Liberal | Secular, anti-confessionalist | |||
Christian Democratic Party | Al-Hizb al-Massihi al-Dimoqrati الحزب المسيحي الدمقراطي |
CDP | Neemtallah Abi Nasr | Currently has no MPs | - | Christian | ||
Popular Nasserite Organization | Al-Tanzim al-Shaabi al-Nassiri التنظيم الشعبي الناصري |
NPO | Ossama Saad | Currently has no MP | Nasserism; Socialism; Arab nationalism | Sunni Muslim | ||
Lebanese Communist Party | Al-Hizb al-Shooyoo'i al-Lubnāny الحزب الشيوعي الليناني |
LCP | Khaled Hadadi | Currently has no MP | Communism | Secular | ||
Arab Liberation Party | Hizb at-Taharror al-Arabi حزب التحرر العربي |
ALP | Omar Karami | Currently has no MP | Feudalism | Sunni Muslim | ||
Movement of Independent Nasserites - al-Murabitoun | Harakat an-Nassiriyin al-Mustakilleen - Al Mourabitoon حركة الناصريين المستقلين - المرابطون |
INM | Ibrahim Kulaylat | Currently has no MP | Nasserism;Arab Nationalism | Mainly Sunni Muslim, but some Shiite and Druze support | ||
Worker's League | Rabitat Al-Shaghila رابطة الشغيلة |
WL | Zaher Khatib | Currently has no MP | Communist; Arab Nationalism | Secular | ||
People's Movement | Harakat Al-Shaab حركة الشعب |
SHAAB | Najah Wakim | Currently has no MP | Nasserism; Socialism; Arab Nationalism | Secular | ||
Nasserite Unification movement | Al-Haraka al-Tawhidiyya an-Nassiriyya الحركة التوحيدية الناصرية |
NUM | - | Currently has no MP | Nasserism | Secular | ||
Islamic Labor Front | Jebhat al-Aamal al-Islamy جبهة العمل الإسلامي |
- | Fathi Yakan | - | Islamism | Sunni Muslim | ||
Lebanese Unification Movement | Tayyar at-Tawhid al-Lubnany تيار النوحيد اللبناني |
UC | Wiam Wahhab | Currently has no MP | Arab Nationalism | Officially Secular, Mainly Druze | ||
Lebanese Popular Congress | Al-Mo'tamar al-Shaabi al-Lubnany المؤتمر الشعبي اللبناني |
LPC | Kamal Chatilla | Currently has no MP | Nasserism | Sunni Muslim | ||
Arab Democratic Party | Al-Hizb al-Arabi al-Dimoqraty الحزب العربي الدمقراطي |
ADP | Ali Eid | Currently has no MP | Pan-Arab nationalism and radical socialism | Alawite Muslim | ||
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 | ||
Islamic Charitable Projects Association | Jam'iyat al-Mashari' al-Khayriya al-Islamiya Al-Ahbash الأحباش |
ICPA | Abdallah al-Harari | Currently has no MP | Sunni Muslim | |||
Federation of Popular Leagues and Committees | Tajamo' Al-Lijan wal Rawabit al-Shaabiya تجمع اللجان والروابط الشعبية |
FPLC | Maan Bashour | Currently has no MP | Nasserism; Arabic Nationalism | Officially Secular, mainly Sunni Muslim | ||
Socialist Arab Union | Al-Ittihad al-Ishtiraki al-Arabi الإتحاد الإشتراكي العربي |
SAU | Omar Harb | Currently has no MP | Socialist | Secular | ||
Union Party حزب الإتحاد |
Hizb al-Ittihad حزب الإتحاد |
UP | Abdelrahim Mrad | Currently has no MP | Nasserism | Officially Secular, Mainly Sunni Muslim | ||
Union of Muslim Ulama | Tajamo' al-Ulamaa' al-Muslimin تجمع العلماء المسلمين | UMU | - | Gathering rather than a party | Islamist | All Muslim sects | ||
Democratic Nasserite Movement | Harakat al-Nassiriyin al-Dimocratiyoon حركة الناصريين الدمقراطيون |
DNM | - | Currently has no MP | Nasserism | Sunni Muslim | ||
Lebanese Arab Struggle Movement | Harakat an-Nidal al-Arabi al-Lubnani حركة النضال العربي اللبناني |
LASM | Faysal Dawood | Currently has no MP | Arabism | Officially Secular, Mainly Druze | ||
Alawite Youth Movement | Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Alawi حركة الشباب العلوي |
AYM | 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 إتحاد الشباب الدمقراطي اللبناني |
UJDL | - | Affiliated to the Lebanese Communist Party | Communist | Secular | ||
Islamic Unification Movement | Harakat Al-Tawhid Al-Islamy حركة التوحيد الإسلامي |
IUM | Said Shaaban | Currently has no MP | Islamism | Sunni Muslim | ||
Akkar Popular Assembly | At-Tajamo' al-Shaabi al-Aakari التجمّع الشعبي العكاري |
- | Wajih Baarini | - | Feudalism | Sunni Muslim | ||
National Youth Party | Hizb al-Shabab al-Watani حزب الشباب الوطني |
- | Ahmad Karami | - | - | Secular | ||
Future Movement | Tayyar Al Mustaqbal تيار المستقبل |
FM | Saad Hariri | Currently has 35 MPs | Capitalism / Nationalism | Officially secular; Mainly Sunni Muslim. | ||
Independents within March 14 alliance | - | - | - | Currently has 13 MPs | - | |||
Lebanese Forces | al-Quwat al-Lubnāniyya القوات اللبنانية |
LF | Samir Geagea | Currently has 8 MPs | Lebanese Christian nationalism | Officially secular; mainly Maronite Christian. | ||
Kataeb Party (Lebanese Phalange Party) |
al-Kataeb al-Lubnāniyya حزب الكتائب اللبنانية |
Kataeb | Amin Gemayel | Currently has 5 MPs | Lebanese Christian nationalism, Federalism | Mainly Maronite Christian | ||
Social Democrat Hunchakian Party | Hizb al-Henchag حزب الهنشاق (حزب الهنشاق الديمقراطي الإجتماعي) |
Henchag (SDHP) Սոցիալ Դեմոկրատ Հնչակեան Կուսակցութիւն (ՍԴՀԿ) |
- | Currently has 2 MP | Socialist | Armenian Secular | ||
National Liberal Party | Hizb al-Wataniyyin al-Ahrar حزب الوطنيين الأحرار |
NLP | Dory Chamoun | Currently has 1 MPs. Part of Qornet Shehwan Gathering | Liberalism | Maronite Christian | ||
Democratic Left | Harakat Al-Yassar ll-Dimoqrati حركة اليسار الديمقراطي |
DL | Elias Attallah | Currently has 1 MP | Left-wing | Secular | ||
Islamic Group | Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya الجماعة الإسلامية |
JI | Assaad Harmouch | Currently has 1 MP | Islamist | Sunni Muslim | ||
Armenian Democratic Liberal Party - Ramgavar | Hizb al-Ramgavar حزب الرمغفار (الحزب الديمقراطي الليبرالي الأرمني) |
Ramgavar (ADL) Ռամկավար Ազատական Կուսակցութիւն (ՌԱԿ) |
Hagop Kassardjian | Currently has 1 Lebanese MP | Liberalism | Armenian Secular | ||
Independence Movement | Harakat Al-Istiklal حركة الإسنقلال |
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 حركة التجدد الدمقراطي |
DRM | Nassib Lahoud | Currently has no MP | Reformism | Secular | ||
Lebanese National Bloc | Hizb al-Kitla al-Wataniya حزب الكتلة الوطنية |
NB | Carlos Eddé | Currently has no MPs | Lebanese nationalism | Officially secular; mainly Maronite Christian | ||
Free Lebanese Armenian Movement | Harakit Al-Lubnaniyin Al-Arman Al-Ahrar حركة اللبنانيين الأرمن الأحرار |
FLAM | - | Currently has no MP | Liberalism | Armenian-Secular | ||
Free Shiite Movement | Tayyar el-Shi'i el-Horr التيار الشيعي الحرّ |
TSH | Mohammad Al Hajj Hassan | Currently has no MP | Islamism | Shiite Muslim | ||
Lebanese Peace Party | Hizb as-Salām al-Lubnāny حزب السلام اللبناني |
LPP | Roger Edde | Currently has 0 MP | - | Secular | ||
Muahedeen Group | Jamaat AL-Muahedeen جماعة الموحدين |
JM | Khaled Alhassanieh | Currently has 0 MPs | Tawhid, | Mainly Druze | ||
Syriac Union Party | Hizb al Ittihad al Siryāni حزب الاتحاد السرياني |
SUP | Ibrahim Mrad | Currently has no MPs | Syriac Christian interest | Mainly Syriac Christian | ||
Shuraya Party | Hizb Al-Shurāya شــورايـا |
Currently has no MPs | Assyrianism | Assyrian | ||||
Socialist Arab Lebanon Vanguard Party | Hizb Al-Taliyeh Lubnan Al-'Arabi Al-Ishtiraki حزب طليعة لبنان العربي الاشتراكي |
Abd al-Majid Rafei | Currently has no MP | Ba'athism (Saddamism) | Lebanese branch of the Iraqi Ba'ath party | |||
Hizb ut-Tahrir | Hizb ut-Tahrir حزب التحرير |
HT | Ata Abu Rashta | Currently has no MP | Officially Islamism | Officially Islamic; Mainly Sunni | ||
Progressive Socialist Party | Hizb al-Taqadummi al-Ishtiraki الحزب التقدمي الإشنراكي |
PSP | Walid Jumblatt | Currently has 7 MPs | Officially Socialism | Officially secular; Mainly Druze | ||
Movement of Lebanese Nationalism | Xaraqit L Cawmiyye L Lebnaaniyye حركة القومية اللبنانية |
XCL (www.X-C-L.org) | Elie Hawi | Currently has no MP | Nationalism | Secular; also known as Guardians of the Cedars | ||
National Dialogue Party | Hizb Al-Hiwar Al-Watani حزب الحوار الوطني |
NDP | Fouad Makhzoumi | Currently has no MP | Capitalism | Officially Secular Mainly Sunni Muslim | ||
Green Party of Lebanon | Hezb al Khodor al-Lubnani حزب الخضر اللبناني |
GPL | Philip Skaf | Currently has no MP | Green politics, Nationalist, Conservatism, | Secular / Environmentalist | ||
Aramean Democratic Organisation | At-Tanzim al-Arami al-Dimoqraty التنظيم الآرامي الديمقراطي |
ArDO | Gabi Gallo | Currently has no MP | Nationalist, Conservatism, Right wing | Aramean Christians | ||
Democratic Socialist Party | Hizb Al-Ishtiraki Al-Dimoqraty الحزب الإشتراكي الديمقراطي | DSPL | Kamel Asaad | Currently has no MP | Socialism | Officially Secular, but mainly Shiite Muslim | ||
Islamic Gathering Movement | Harakat at-Tajammo' al-Islamy حركة التجمّع الإسلامي |
- | - | - | Islamic | Sunni Muslim | ||
Lebanese Democratic Movement | Tayyar Lubnan al-Dimoqraty تيار لبنان الديمقراطي |
- | Jack Tamer | - | Social democracy | Secular | ||
Lebanese Movement | Harakat Lubnan حركة لبنان |
- | Nabil Mshantaf | - | - | - | ||
Lebanese Option Gathering | Tayyar al-Intimaa' al-Lubnani تيار الإنتماء اللبناني |
LOG | Ahmad al-Asaad | Currently has no MP | Liberalism | Officially Secular but mainly Shiite Muslim | ||
Lebanese People's Front | Jabhat al-Shaab al-Lubnany جبهة الشعب اللبناني |
- | Joseph Haddad | - | - | - | ||
Liberty Front | Jabhat al Horriya جبهة الحرية |
- | Fouad Abou Nader | Also known as Lebanese Forces Resistance, the Lebanese Christian Resistance | Center right | Officially secular; Traditionally Christian | ||
Al-Hizb al-Jumhury al-Mustakel | Independent Republican Party الحزب الجمهوري المستقل |
Founder Khaled Al-Hassanieh | Center right | Mainly Druze | ||||
Najjadeh Party | Hizb Al-Nejjadeh حزب النجادة |
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 حركة التقدّم الوطني |
- | - | Founder was Jamil Lahoud, Pr.Émile Lahoud's father | - | Secular | |
The United Phoenician Party | Hizb al-Itihad al-Finiki |
-UPP | Cadmus Hanna | International Lebanese United Phoenician Party, Lebanese United Phoenician Party, Lebanese Phoenician Party Alliance | Phoenician Nationalism | Secular | ||
United Phoenician Party | Hizb al ittihad-l Finiki |
- | Antonios Abidaoud | Phoenician Alliance | Phoenician-Lebanese state | Secular | ||
National Labor Movement | Hizb al-Aamal al-Watani حزب العمل اللبناني |
- | - | - | Communism | Secular | ||
Phoenician Party | Hezb'el Finiqi |
PHP | V.Assaf | - | Nationalism | Phoenicians | ||
The reformist movement in the Progressive Socialist Party | Al-Haraka al-Islahiya fil Hizb at-Takadomi al-Ishtiraki الحركة الإصلاحية في الحزب التقدّمي الإشتراكي |
- | Ra'ed Sayegh | - | Socialism | Secular | ||
Islamic Jihad Movement (Lebanon) | Harakat al-Jihad al-Islamy حركة الجهاد الإسلامي |
- | - | - | Islamism | Sunni Muslim | ||
New Lebanese Movement | Harakat al-Lubnaniyin al-Jodod حركة اللبنانيين الجدد |
Danny Abdel Khalek | - | Secularism | Secular | |||
The Independents | Al-Mustakiloon المستقلون |
- | - | - | - | Secular | ||
Republican Reform Party | Al-Hizb al-Islahi al-Jumhuri الحزب الإصلاحي الجمهوري |
- | Charles Chidiac | - | Liberalism | Secular | ||
Arab Socialist Party | Al-Hizb al-Arabi al-Ishtiraki الحزب العربي الإشتراكي |
- | - | - | Socialism | Secular | ||
Lebanese Labor Party | Hizb al-Aamal al-Lubnany حزب العمل اللبناني |
- | - | - | communism | Secular | ||
Democratic Labor Party | Al-Hizb al-'Ommali al-Dimoqraty الحزب العمّالي الديمقراطي |
- | Elias Abu Rizk | socialism | Secular | |||
Democratic Secular Party | Al-Hizb al-'Ilmani al-Dimoqraty الحزب العلماني الديمقراطي |
- | - | - | secularism | Secular | ||
Lebanese Ecology Party | Hizb al-Bi'a al-Lubnany حزب البيئة اللبناني |
- | - | - | ecology | Secular | ||
Popular Democratic Party | Al-Hizb al-Shaabi al-Dimoqraty الحزب الشعبي الديمقراطي |
- | - | - | - | Secular | ||
Party of Socialist Revolution | Hizb al-Thawra al-Ishtirakiyya حزب الثورة الإشتراكية |
- | - | - | Maoist Communism | Secular | ||
Free Alternative | Al Badil Al Taharouri البديل التحرّري |
- | - | - | Anarchism | Secular | ||
National Party | Al-Hizb al-Watani الحزب الوطني |
- | - | - | - | Secular | ||
Lebanese Arab Movement | Harakat Lubnan al-Arabi حركة لبنان العربي |
- | - | - | Nasserism | Sunni Muslim | ||
Lebanese National League | Al-Rabita al-Wataniya al-Lubnaniyya الرابطة الوطنية اللبنانية |
- | Wajeb Kanso | - | Left-wing | Secular | ||
Lebanese Resistance Brigades | Saraya al-Moqawama al-Lubnaniyya سرايا المقاومة اللبنانية |
- | - | Extension of Hizbollah | - | Secular | ||
Nasserite Nationalist Organisation | At-Tanzim al-Qawmi an-Nassiri التنظيم القومي الناصري |
- | - | - | Nasserism; Arab Nationalism | Secular | ||
Justice and Development movement | Tayyar el 'Adel wal Tanmiya تيار العدل والتنمية |
- | - | - | - | Secular | ||
Cedars Movement | Tayyar al-Arz تيار الأرز |
- | - | - | - | Secular | ||
Organization of Communist Action | Moonazzamat al-'Amal al-Shuyoo'i منظمة العمل الشيوعي |
Ibrahim Muhsen | Ibrahim Muhsen | - | Communism; Arab Nationalism | Secular | ||
Revolutionary Communist Group | At-Tajamo' Al-Shuyoo'i Al-Thawri التجمّع الشيوعي الثوري |
- | Camil Dagher | - | Communism; Trotskyism | Secular | ||
Leftist Assembly for Change | At-Tajamo' Al-Yasari Min Ajli Al Taghyeer التجمّع اليساري من اجل التغيير |
TYMAT | - | - | Revolutionary Socialism; Trotskyism; Leninism | Secular | ||
Civil society Movement | Tayyar al-Mojtama' al-Madani تيار المجتمع المدني |
- | Gregoire Haddad | - | Secularism | Secular | ||
Southern Christian Assembly | At-Tajamo' al-Massihi al-Janoubi التجمع المسيحي الجنوبي |
- | - | - | Christian conservatism | Christian | ||
Kurdish Democratic Party | Al-Hizb Al-Kurdi Al-Dimoqraty الحزب الكردي الديمقراطي |
- | Riyad Mihhu | - | - | Kurdish | ||
Razkari Party | Hizb Razkari حزب رزكاري |
- | Mahmoud Khodr Fattah Ahmad | - | - | Kurdish | ||
Lebanese secular movement | Al-haraka Al-3oulmaniyya Al-loubnaniyya الحركة العلمانية اللبنانية |
LSM | Jad Moukarzel | - | Secularism | Secular | ||
Guardians of the Cedars | Hizb Horras al-Arz حزب حرّاس الأرز |
- | Etienne Sakr | - | Phoenician Nationalism, conservatism, far-right | Multiconfessional, but mainly Maronite Christian | ||
N/A | Regressive Isolationist Party | Al-Hizb Al-Raj'i Al-I'tizali الحزب الرجعي الإعتزالي |
- | - | - | - | - | |
N/A | Islamic Amal Movement | Harakat Amal Al-Islamiya حركة أمل الإسلامية |
- | Sobhi Toufaily | - | Islamism | Shi'a Muslim | |
Lebanese Resistance Movement (Tanzim) | Harakat al-Moqawama al-Lubnaniya (Tanzim) حركة المقاومة اللبنانية - التنظيم |
- | - | The Party disappeared after its militias disbanding | Christian Conservatism | Maronite Christian | ||
Lebanese Youth Movement (MKG) | Harakat al-Shabab al-Lubnaniya حركة الشباب اللبنانية |
- | Bachir Maroun | - | Christian Conservatism | Maronite Christian | ||
Constitutional Bloc Party | Hizb al-Kutla al-Doostooriya حزب الكتلة الدستورية |
- | Khalil El-Khoury | Mainly created by Pr. Bechara 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 الحزب العمالي اللبناني الكبير |
- | - | This party existed during the French Mandate of Lebanon | Communism | Secular | ||
Deprived Movement | Harakat al-Mahroomin حركة المحرومين |
- | Musa al-Sadr | Ancestor of Amal | - | Secular | ||
Arab Nationalists Movement | Harakat al-Qawmiyyin al-'Arab حركة القوميين العرب |
- | ||||||
Social Democratic Youth | Al-Shabab al-Ijtimai al-Dimoqraty الشباب الإجتماعي الديمقراطي |
- | - Formed by a Committee of 21 members | A None official party founded year 2002, by youth groups for a non hereditary sectarian Lebanon. Currently has no MP | Social, Democratic | Secular |
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See also
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