Government and Politics of Lebanon

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beyrouth, Beqaa, Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye

Legal System

mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Lebanon dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: unknown

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Joseph AOUN (since 9 January 2025) head of government: Prime Minister Nawaf SALAM (since 13 February 2025) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and members of the National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term; the prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly; by longstanding agreement, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the National Assembly is a Shia Muslim election results: for 9 January 2025 election: Joseph AOUN elected president; National Assembly vote - 99 votes in favor out of 128 members present; Nawaf SALAM subsequently designated as prime minister following parliamentary consultations and was formally appointed on 8 February 2025, taking office on 13 February 2025

Legislative Branch

Unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms) Elections: Last held on 15 May 2022 (next to be held in 2026) Election results: Percent of vote by group - NA; seats by group - Hezbollah and Amal Movement (Shia alliance) 27; Lebanese Forces 19; Free Patriotic Movement 17; Future Movement 4; Progressive Socialist Party 9; Kataeb Party 5; independents and civil society reformist groups 13; Marada Movement 3; Azm Movement 4; other parties and smaller blocs 27 The 2022 elections were notable for the significant gains made by independent and reform-oriented candidates, largely a result of the popular mobilization that followed the October 2019 uprising and the catastrophic Beirut port explosion of August 2020. The elections marked a notable decline in support for the Future Movement, led by Saad Hariri, who announced his withdrawal from political life ahead of the vote. Despite the shifting political landscape, the overall confessional structure of the parliament, which reserves seats proportionally among Lebanon's recognized religious communities, remained unchanged.

Judicial Branch

four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws); Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed)

Political Parties

Ba'th Party [leader NA]; Democratic Gathering [Walid JUMBLATT]; Democratic Left [Ilyas ATALLAH]; Democratic Renewal Movement [Nassib LAHUD]; Development and Resistance Bloc [Nabih BERRI, Amal Movement leader/Speaker of the National Assembly]; Free Patriotic Movement [Michel AWN]; Future Movement Bloc [Sa'ad HARIRI]; Kataeb Party [Karim PAKRADONI]; Kataeb Reform Movement [Amine GEMAYAL]; Lebanese Forces [Samir JA'JA]; Loyalty to the Resistance [Mohammad RA'AD]; Metn Bloc [Michel MURR]; Nasserite Popular Movement [Ussama SAAD]; National Bloc [Carlos EDDE]; Popular Bloc [Elias SKAFF]; Qornet Shewan Gathering [a grouping with no individual leader]; Syrian National Socialist Party [Ali QANSU]; Tachnaq Party [leader NA]; Tripoli Independent Bloc [a grouping with no individual leader]

Head of State

President Joseph AOUN

Head of Government

Prime Minister Nawaf SALAM

Cabinet

Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and members of the National Assembly

Elections

Last held on 15 May 2022 (next to be held in 2026)

Election Results

Percent of vote by group - NA; seats by group - Hezbollah and Amal Movement (Shia alliance) 27; Lebanese Forces 19; Free Patriotic Movement 17; Future Movement 4; Progressive Socialist Party 9; Kataeb Party 5; independents and civil society reformist groups 13; Marada Movement 3; Azm Movement 4; other parties and smaller blocs 27 The 2022 elections were notable for the significant gains made by independent and reform-oriented candidates, largely a result of the popular mobilization that followed the October 2019 uprising and the catastrophic Beirut port explosion of August 2020. The elections marked a notable decline in support for the Future Movement, led by Saad Hariri, who announced his withdrawal from political life ahead of the vote. Despite the shifting political landscape, the overall confessional structure of the parliament, which reserves seats proportionally among Lebanon's recognized religious communities, remained unchanged.

Constitution

23 May 1926, amended a number of times, most recently Charter of Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989

Independence

22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

International Organization Participation

ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAS, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Farid ABBOUD chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324 consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, Los Angeles

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey D. FELTMAN embassy: Awkar, Lebanon mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE 09836-0002; from US: Embassy Beirut, 6070 Beirut Place, Washington, DC 20521-6070 telephone: [961] (4) 542600, 543600 FAX: [961] (4) 544136

Capital City

Beirut

Location

33 52 N, 35 30 E

Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

derived from the Canaanite or Phoenician word "ber'ot," meaning "the wells" or "fountain," which referred to the site's accessible water table

U.S. Embassy, Beirut Address: Awkar Facing the Municipality PO Box 70-840 Telephone: (961) 4 542600 - 543600 Facsimile: (961) 4 544209 Email: BeirutACS@state.gov U.S. citizens enrolled in STEP can receive updated information and emergency messages via e-mail by subscribing to our Message Service. U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. Information on consular services and enrollment in STEP can also be found on the Embassy’s website, by contacting us via email, or by phone at the telephone numbers shown above between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday local time. Routine services, such as passport renewals, for U.S. citizens are available Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. by appointment only. U.S. citizens who require urgent assistance outside these hours may contact the Embassy by telephone at any time.

Military Branches

Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Lebanese Army ((Al Jaysh al Lubnani) includes Lebanese Navy (Al Quwwat al Bahiriyya al Lubnaniya), Lebanese Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Lubnaniya))

Service Age and Obligation

17-30 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-24 years of age for officer candidates; no conscription