List of political parties in Lebanon explained

Lebanon has hundreds of registered political parties. After 2005, when the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri precipitated the Cedar Revolution, the political landscape became polarized between two rival alliances, the March 8 Alliance and the March 14 Alliance. Both names refer to dates of mass demonstrations during the revolution.

The March 8 Alliance was supportive of continued Syrian intervention in Lebanon, and includes Hezbollah, the Amal Movement (both majority Shia), and the Free Patriotic Movement (majority Christian). The March 14 Alliance contained parties who advocated for the end of Syrian involvement. Major partners include the Future Movement (majority Sunni), the Lebanese Forces, and Ketaeb (both majority Christian). This alliance dissolved in 2016, and the Future Movement withdrew from the 2022 election, but the remaining partners have maintained their opposition to Hezbollah.

The Progressive Socialist Party, the main representative of the Druze community, has supported both blocs at different points.

After the Revolution of 17 October 2019, a series of large-scale protests against the country's economic situation and political elites, a third bloc has emerged, of non-sectarian groups advocating for wide-scale reform. These groups first gained parliamentary representation in the 2022 elections.

Parties

The following list places political parties within the two major alliances. Although most parties maintain that they are secular, the major political parties in Lebanon are loosely representative of a certain faith community.

Parties currently represented in parliament

PartyAbbr.Leader or ChairmanMPsPolitical position & ideologyAlliancePrimary demographic
Lebanese Forces
القوات اللبنانية
al-Quwwāt al-Lubnānīyah
LFSamir GeageaChristian democracy
Liberal conservatism
Lebanese nationalism
OppositionChristian
Free Patriotic Movement
التيار الحرّ
at-Tayyār al-Horr
FPMGebran BassilCivic nationalism
Christian democracy
Economic liberalism
Christian
Amal Movement
حركة أمل
Ḥarakat Amal
Amal
أمل
Nabih BerriConservatism
Populism
March 8Shiite
Hezbollah
حزب الله
Ḥizbu 'llāh
HANaim QassemIslamism
Anti-Zionism
Anti-Western
March 8Shiite
Progressive Socialist Party
الحزب التقدمي الإشتراكي
Ḥizb at-Taqadummi al-Ishtiraki
PSPTaymur JumblattSocial democracy
Progressivism
Third Way
OppositionDruze
Future Movement
تيار المستقبل
Tayyār al-Mustaqbal
FMSaad HaririClassical liberalism
Economic liberalism
Lebanese nationalism
OppositionSunni
Kataeb Party (Phalanges)
حزب الكتائب اللبنانية
Ḥizb al-Katā'ib al-Lubnānīya
KataebSamy GemayelLebanese nationalism
Christian democracy
Social conservatism
Maronite politics
OppositionMaronite
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Հայ Յեղափոխական Դաշնակցութիւն
Hay Heghapokhagan Tashnagtsutiun
ARF
ՀՅԴ
Hagop PakradounianDemocratic socialism
Armenian nationalism
United Armenia
March 8Armenian
Marada Movement
تيار المردة
Tayyār al-Marada
MMSuleiman FrangiehChristian democracy
Lebanese nationalism
Pro-Syrianism
March 8Maronite
Independence Movement
حركة الاستقلال
Harakat al-Istiklal
IMMichel MoawadLebanese nationalismOppositionMaronite
Taqaddom Party
حزب التقدم
Ḥizb al-TaKadum
Collective leadershipReformism
Social democracy
October 17Secular
Islamic Charitable Projects Association
جمعية المشاريع الخيرية الإسلامية
Jamʿīyah al-Mashārīʿ al-Khayrīyah al-ʾIslāmīyah
ICPA
الأحباش
al-Aḥbāsh
Shaykh Hussam QaraqiraReligious pluralism
Islamic neo-traditionalism
Anti-Salafism
March 8Sunni
Islamic Group
الجماعة الإسلامية
al-Jama'ah al-Islamiyah
IGAzzam Al-AyyoubiIslamic democracy
Pan-Islamism
OppositionSunni
Union Party
حزب الإتحاد
Ḥizb al-Ittiḥād
UPAbdul Rahim MradNasserismMarch 8Sunni
Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party in Lebanon
حزب البعث العربي الاشتراكي في لبنان
Ḥizb al-Ba‘th al-‘Arabī al-Ishtirākī fī Lubnān
Ba'athDisputedNeo-Ba'athism
Arab socialism
Arab nationalism
March 8Secular
National Liberal Party
حزب الوطنيين الأحرار
Ḥizb al-Waṭaniyyīn al-Aḥrār
NLPCamille Dory ChamounEconomic liberalism
Lebanese nationalism
National liberalism
OppositionMaronite
Lebanese Communist Party
الحزب الشيوعي اللبناني
al-Ḥizb aš-Šuyūʿī al-Lubnānī
LCPHanna GharibCommunism
Marxism–Leninism
Anti-Zionism
October 17Secular
Lana – Social Democratic Party
لـنا - حزب ديمقراطي اجتماعي
Lana - hizb dimuqratiun ajtimaeiun
LanaHassan SinnoReformism
Social democracy
October 17Secular
Mada Party
حزب مادا
hizb mada
MadaKarim SaadehReformism
Social democracy
October 17Secular
Khatt Ahmar
الخط الأحمر
alkhatu al'ahmar
Waddah SadekReformism
Social democracy
October 17Secular
Popular Nasserist Organization
التنظيم الشعبي الناصري
at-Tanzim ash-Shaabi an-Nassiri
PNOOssama SaadNasserism
Socialism
Arab nationalism
March 8Sunni
National Dialogue Party
حزب الحوار الوطني
Ḥizb al-Hiwar al-Watani
NDPFouad MakhzoumiEconomic liberalism
Secular liberalism
NoneSunni
Dignity Movement
تيار الكرامة
Tayyār al-Karāma
DMFaisal KaramiArab nationalism
Anti-Zionism
Pan-Arabism
March 8Sunni
Watani Alliance
تحالف وطني
tahaluf watani
WataniMark GearaReformism
Social democracy
October 17Secular
ReLebanon
لبنان عن جديد
lubnan ean jadid
Ziad AbsReformism
Social democracy
October 17Secular

Other parties

PartyAbbr.Leader or ChairmanPolitical position & ideologyPrimary demographic
Arab Democratic Party
الحزب العربي الدمقراطي
al-Ḥizb al-Arabi ad-Dimoqraty
ADPRifaat EidArab nationalism
Arab socialism
Baathism
Pan-Syrianism
Syrian Social Nationalist Party
الحزب السوري القومي الإجتماعي
al-Ḥizb as-Sūrī al-Qawmī al-'Ijtimā'ī
SSNPRabi BanatSyrian nationalism
Left-wing nationalism
Secular
Independent Nasserite Movement - Al-Mourabitoun
حركة الناصريين المستقلين - المرابطون
Ḥarakat an-Nassiriyin al-Mustakilleen - al-Mourabitoon
INMIbrahim KulaylatArab nationalism
Nasserism
Anti-imperialism
Pan-Arabism
Arab socialism
Mainly Sunni Muslim
Some Shiite and Druze
Lebanese Democratic Party
الحزب الديمقراطي اللبناني
al-Ḥizb ad-Dimoqrati al-Lubnāni
LDPPrince Talal ArslanConservatismOfficially Secular
Mainly Druze
Toilers League
رابطة الشغيلة
Rabitat ash-Shaghila
LTZaher KhatibCommunism
Marxism-Leninism
Socialism
Arab nationalism
(Left-wing nationalism)
Secular
Solidarity Party
حزب التضامن
Ḥizb at-Tadamon
TadamonEmile RahmeChristian liberalismChristianity
People's Movement
حركة الشعب
Ḥarakat ash-Shaeb
SHAABIbrahim al-HalabiNasserism
Socialism
Arab nationalism
Secular
Christian Democratic Union
الحزب المسيحي الدمقراطي
al-Hizb al-Massihi al-Dimoqrati
CDUNeemtallah Abi NasrChristian democracyChristian
Nasserite Unionists Movement
الحركة التوحيدية الناصرية
al-Ḥaraka at-Tawhidiyya an-Nassiriyya
NUM-NasserismSecular
Islamic Labor Front
جبهة العمل الإسلامي
Jebhat al-A'amal al-Islamy
ILFFathi YakanIslamismSunni Muslim
Arab Unification Party
تيار التوحيد اللبناني
Tayyār at-Tawhid al-Lubnany
LUMWiam WahhabArab nationalismOfficially secular
Mainly Druze
Promise Party
حزب الوعد
Ḥizb al-Waad
NSDPGina HobeikaSecularismOfficially secular
Mainly Maronite Christian
Federation of Popular Leagues and Committees
تجمع اللجان والروابط الشعبية
Tajamo' al-Lijan wal Rawabit ash-Shaabiya
FPLCMaan BashourNasserism
Arab Nationalism
Officially secular
Mainly Sunni Muslim
Arab Socialist Union
الإتحاد الإشتراكي العربي
al-Ittiḥād al-Ishtiraki al-Arabi
SAUOmar HarbArab socialismSecular
Democratic Nasserite Movement
حركة الناصريين الدمقراطيون
Ḥarakat al-Nassiriyin ad-Dimocratiyoon
DNM-NasserismSunni Muslim
Lebanese Arab Struggle Movement
حركة النضال العربي اللبناني
Ḥarakat an-Nidal al-Arabi al-Lubnani
LASMFaysal DawoodArabismOfficially secular
Mainly Druze
Islamic Unification Movement
حركة التوحيد الإسلامي
Ḥarakat at-Tawhid al-Islamy
IUMSaid ShaabanIslamismSunni Muslim
PartyAbbr.Leader or ChairmanPolitical position & ideologyPrimary demographic
Social Democrat Hunchakian Party
حزب الهنشاق (حزب الهنشاق الديمقراطي الإجتماعي)
Ḥizb al-Henchag
Սոցիալ Դեմոկրատ Հնչակեան Կուսակցութիւն
Sotsial Demokrat Hnchakyan Kusaktsutyun
SDHP
ՍԴՀԿ
-Democratic socialism
Social democracy
Armenian nationalism
Secularism
Democratic Left Movement
حركة اليسار الديمقراطي
Ḥarakat al-Yassar ad-Dimoqrati
DLElias AttallahLeft-wingSecular
Democratic Renewal
حركة التجدد الدمقراطي
Ḥarakat at-Tajaddod ad-Dimoqrati
DRMFarouk JabreSocial liberalism
Secularism
Reformism
Nonsectarianism
Secular
Armenian Democratic Liberal Party - Ramgavar
حزب الرمغفار (الحزب الديمقراطي الليبرالي الأرمني)
Ḥizb ar-Ramgavar
Ռամկավար Ազատական Կուսակցութիւն
Ramgavar Azadagan Gusagtsutyun
ADL
ՌԱԿ
Hagop KassardjianArmenian nationalism
National liberalism
Classical liberalism
Pro-Europeanism
Free Lebanese Armenian Movement
حركة اللبنانيين الأرمن الأحرار
Ḥarakat al-Lubnaniyin al-Arman al-Ahrar
FLAM-Secular liberalismArmenian
Free Shia Movement
التيار الشيعي الحرّ
at-Tayyār ash-Shi'iy al-Hurr
TSHMohammad Al Hajj HassanIslamismShiite Muslim
Lebanese Peace Party
حزب السلام اللبناني
Ḥizb as-Salam al-Lubnany
LPPRoger EddeCentrism
Decentralization
Big tent[1]
Secular
Syriac Union Party
ܓܒܐ ܕܚܘܝܕܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ ܒܠܒܢܢ
حزب الاتحاد السرياني
Ḥizb al-Ittiḥād as-Siryani
SUPIbrahim MradAssyrian nationalism
Shuraya Party
ܫܘܖܝܐ
حزب شوريا
Ḥizb ash-Shuraya
ShurayaAssyrianismAssyrian
Change Movement[2] حركة التغـييرCMElie MahfoudDemocracyChristian

Non-aligned

PartyAbbr.Leader or ChairmanPolitical position & ideologyPrimary demographic
Citizens in a State
مواطنون ومواطنات في دولة
Mouwatinoun wa Mouwatinat fi Dawla
MMFDCharbel NahasCivic nationalism
Progressivism
Secularism
Secular
Mada Network
شبكة مدى
Shabaket Mada
MadaHorizontal LeadershipSecularism
Democracy
Social justice
Secular
Popular Bloc
التكتّل الشعبي
at-Takattol ash-Shaa'bi
-Myriam SkaffChristian democracyGreek Catholic
Azm Movement
تيار العزم
Tayyār al-Azm
AzmNajib MikatiCentrism
Secularism
Secular
Mainly Sunni
Sabaa Party
حزب سبعة
Hizb Sabea
SabaaHassan Baz ChamasLiberalismSecular
Lebanese Social Democratic Party
حزب الدمقراطي الإشتراكي
Ḥizb ad-Dimoqraty al-Ishtiraki
DSPLKamel AsaadSocialism
Secularism
Lebanese nationalism
Islamic socialism
Social democracy
Democratic socialism
Red Shi'ism
Secular
Mainly Shiite Muslim
National Bloc
حزب الكتلة الوطنية
Ḥizb al-Kitla al-Wataniya
NBMichel HelouCentrism
Lebanese nationalism
Secular
Historically Maronite
Green Party of Lebanon
حزب الخضر اللبناني
Ḥizb al-Khodor al-Lubnanī
GPLPhilip SkafSecular
Hizb ut-Tahrir
حزب التحرير
Ḥizb at-Taḥrīr
HTAta Abu RashtaOfficially IslamismOfficially Islamic
Mainly Sunni
Phoenician Party
حزب فينيقيا
Hizb alFiniki
Antonios AbidaoudPhoenician NationalismSecular
Socialist Arab Lebanon Vanguard Party
حزب طليعة لبنان العربي الاشتراكي
Ḥizb at-Taliyeh Lubnan al-'Arabi al-Ishtiraki
HTAbd al-Majid RafeiBa'athismSecular
Movement of Lebanese Nationalism
حركة القومية اللبنانية
Ḥarakat al-Qawmiyya al-Lubnaniyya
MLNEtienne SaqrRight-wing nationalismSecular
Traditionally Christian
Aramean Democratic Organization
ܛܘܟܣܐ ܐܪܡܝܐ ܕܝܡܘܩܪܛܝܐ
Ṭukoso Oromoyo Dimoqraṭoyo
التنظيم الآرامي الديمقراطي
at-Tanzim al-Arami ad-Dimoqraty
ArDOGabi GalloArameanism
National conservatism
Christian democracy
Religious nationalism
Pro-Europeanism
Aramean
Lihaqqi
لِ حقي
Lihaqqi
Collective LeadershipLeft-libertarianism
Grassroots democracy
Economic democracy
Radical democracy
Secular
Lebanese Democratic Movement
تيار لبنان الديمقراطي
Tayyār Lubnan ad-Dimoqraty
-Jack TamerSocial democracySecular
Lebanese Option Party
تيار الإنتماء اللبناني
Tayyār al-Intimaa' al-Lubnani
LOGAhmad al-AsaadLiberalismSecular
Mainly Shiite Muslim
Liberty Front
جبهة الحرية
Jabhat al-Horriya
-Fouad Abou NaderCenter-rightSecular
Traditionally Christian
Najjadeh Party
حزب النجادة
Ḥizb an-Nejjadeh
Mustapha HakimArab nationalismSunni Muslim
New Lebanese Movement
حركة اللبنانيين الجدد
Ḥarakat al-Lubnaniyin al-Jodod
Danny Abdel KhalekSecularismSecular
Arab Socialist Party
الحزب العربي الإشتراكي
al-Ḥizb al-Arabi al-Ishtiraki
--SocialismSecular
Lebanese Ecology Party
حزب البيئة اللبناني
Ḥizb al-Bi'a al-Lubnany
-Habib MaaloufEcologySecular
Popular Democratic Party
الحزب الشعبي الديمقراطي
al-Ḥizb ash-Shaabi ad-Dimoqraty
-Nazih HamzaMarxism-LeninismSecular
Take Back Parliament - Lebanonإسترجعوا البرلمانTBPVariousSecularismSecular
Lebanese Arab Movement
حركة لبنان العربي
Ḥarakat Lubnan al-Arabi
--NasserismSunni Muslim
Organization of Communist Action
منظمة العمل الشيوعي
Munaẓẓamah al-‘Amal ash-Shuyū‘ī
-Ibrahim MuhsenCommunism
Marxism–Leninism
Socialism
Maoism
Secular
Kurdish Democratic Party
الحزب الديمقراطي الكردي في لبنان
al-Ḥizb ad-Dimuqrati al-Kurdi fi Lubnan
-Riyad MihhuKurdish nationalismKurdish
Razkari Party
حزب رزكاري
Ḥizb Rizkārī
-Mahmoud Khodr Fattah AhmadKurdish nationalismKurdish

Defunct parties

PartyAbbr.Leader or ChairmanNotesIdeologyPrimary demographic
Al-Tanzim Party
حركة المقاومة اللبنانية - التنظيم
Ḥarakat al-Moqawama al-Lubnaniya (Tanzim)
Tanzim-Political wing of the Al-Tanzim militia.Ultranationalism
Christian right
Maronite
Constitutional Bloc
الكتلة الدستورية
al-Kutla ad-Dustuuriyya
-Khalil El-KhouryCreated by Bechara El Khoury to oppose Émile Eddé's National BlocSecular liberalism
Liberal nationalism
Nonsectarianism
Pro-National Pact
Secular
The Great Lebanese Labor Party
الحزب العمالي اللبناني الكبير
al-Ḥizb al-'Ommali al-Lubnany al-Kabir
--This party existed during the French Mandate of LebanonCommunismSecular
Deprived Movement
حركة المحرومين
Ḥarakat al-Mahrumin
-Musa al-SadrAncestor of Amal-Shia
Arab Nationalist Movement
حركة القوميين العرب
Ḥarakat al-Qawmiyyin al-'Arab
--Split, most merged into the Arab Socialist Action Party – LebanonPan-Arabism
Arab socialism
Anti-Zionism
Secularism
National liberation
-
Syrian–Lebanese Communist Party
الحزب الشيوعي السوري اللبناني
al-Ḥizb ash-Shuyū'ī as-Sūrī al-Lubnānī
-Khalid Bakdash-Communism
Marxism-Leninism
Secular
Arab Socialist Action Party – Lebanon
حزب العمل الاشتراكي العربي - لبنان
Ḥizb al-'Amal al-Ishtiraki al-'Arabi - Lubnan
ASAP-LHussein Hamdan-Marxism
Arab nationalism
Secular
National Youth Party
حزب الشباب الوطني
Ḥizb ash-Shabab al-Watani
-Ahmad Karami--Secular
Party of Socialist Revolution
حزب الثورة الإشتراكية
Ḥizb at-Thawra al-Ishtirakiyya
---MaoismSecular
Communist Action Organization in Lebanon
منظمة العمل الشيوعي في لبنان
Munaẓẓamah al-‘Amal al-Shuyū‘ī fī Lubnān
CAOL; OCALMohsen IbrahimCommunism
Marxism-Leninism
Secular
Lebanese Republican Party
الحزب الجمهوري اللباني
Al Hezb Al Joumhouri Al Loubnani
LRP; PRLImad GearaRepublicanism
Secularism Nationalism
Secular

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The anti-establishment - Executive Magazine. Nash. Matt. 2017-09-13. Executive. en-US. 2019-10-30. 2020-08-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20200813165135/https://www.executive-magazine.com/cover-story/the-anti-establishment. live.
  2. Web site: Change Movement head Elie Mahfoud to MTV: The President was required to take a firmer stance following the Minister of Culture's words and his threat that the Lebanese would witness something they had never seen before . 2021-10-15 . MTV Lebanon . en . 2021-10-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211029171953/https://www.mtv.com.lb/en/news/live_feed/1224423/change-movement-head-elie-mahfoud-to-mtv--the-president-was-required-to-take-a-firmer-stance-following-the-minister-of-culture-s-words-and-his-threat-that-the-lebanese-would-witness-something-they-had-never-seen-before . dead .