Lebanon
Lebanon exhibits mid-level performance in the Representation, Rights and Participation categories of the Global State of Democracy framework, while scoring in the low range in Rule of Law. Compared to five years prior, it has experienced significant declines in Effective Parliament, Access to Justice, Basic Welfare, Absence of Corruption and Personal Integrity and Security. Lebanon’s economy, traditionally driven primarily by banking, tourism, and real estate, has been devastated by years of mismanagement. The 2024 war between Israel and Hezbollah inflicted billions of dollars in physical damage and economic loss. Poverty has surged over the past decade and now affects 44 per cent of the population.
Lebanon gained independence in 1943 after 23 years of French colonial rule. Before that, it was under Ottoman rule for nearly 400 years until the end of World War I. The country, known for its ethno-sectarian diversity—including sects of Shia and Sunni Muslims and Christians—has a complex political landscape shaped by a devastating civil war from 1975 to 1990. The 1989 Taif Agreement brought an end to the war by instituting power-sharing principles for its key executive and parliamentary positions, yet it failed to address the underlying conflicts, particularly concerning religious identity and refugees. The aftermath of the war solidified sectarian divisions in Lebanon's political sphere and facilitated the rise of influential militias and gave rise to hybrid security governance. Foreign involvement, notably the prolonged presence of Syrian military forces until 2005, significantly shaped the country's post-war dynamics. The assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri that year led to the political forces splitting into two main political blocs: the pro-Syrian March 8 alliance (including Hezbollah and Amal) and the anti-Syrian March 14 alliance (led by the Future Movement). Although, the influence of these blocs has diminished, their legacies continue to impact political discourse, particularly regarding Syrian refugees and Hezbollah's political and military role in Lebanon. While in 2022 the Hezbollah-led bloc lost its majority in parliament, its involvement in politics has become a key state legitimacy challenge.
Lebanon continues to face persistent challenges, including institutional dysfunction, corruption, and socio-economic inequality. The long-stalled investigation into the 2020 Beirut port explosion—only recently resumed—has underscored institutional weaknesses, while public trust in governance and justice remains deeply eroded. This has been further compounded by regional instability, including the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, which inflicted extensive infrastructural damage and heavy civilian casualties until a fragile ceasefire was reached. Amid these ongoing challenges, there has been renewed political momentum: the 2025 election of a new president ended a two-year vacancy, a reform-oriented government was established, and long-delayed municipal elections were held.
Lebanon scores in the mid-range on Gender Equality, with gains in women’s education and workforce participation, despite persisting gender gaps. Women hold only 6.3 percent of parliamentary seats, and discriminatory personal status laws continue to undermine women's rights in many areas. Despite repressive bans on gatherings, an active civil society advocates for LGBTQIA+ rights. However, same-sex relations between men remain criminalized.
Looking ahead, close attention should be paid to Representation and Rule of Law, as the formation of a new government offers a window of opportunity to overcome political deadlock and implement long-overdue reforms. In this context, Judicial Independence and Absence of Corruption will be key areas to monitor, alongside developments in Access to Justice, most notably the reopening of the investigation into the 2020 Beirut port explosion.
Last Updated: June 2025
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
May 2025
Lebanon holds first municipal elections in nearly a decade
From 4 to 25 May, long-delayed municipal elections were held across all nine governorates, marking the first such vote since 2016. After multiple postponements, the elections represent a significant step toward reestablishing electoral processes at the local level, following political, economic and security challenges. Conducted in four stages, voter turnout varied considerably across regions, ranging from 21.0 per cent in Beirut to 60.2 per cent in the Keserwan district of Mount Lebanon. Approximately 3,000 women ran as candidates in the elections, twice as many as in the previous election in 2016. In addition to municipal councils, voters also elected mukhtars (local officials responsible for civil documentation and serving as liaisons between citizens and state institutions).
Sources: Associated Press, L’Orient Today (1), L’Orient Today (2), L’Orient Today (3), MTV Lebanon, Jadaliyya
April 2025
Banking secrecy rules amended in efforts to fight corruption
On 24 April, parliament passed a law easing banking secrecy rules, granting government bodies access to bank records dating back ten years; these data were previously beyond their reach. Under the new legislation, a wide range of actors including the central bank, banking regulators, accredited auditors, the judiciary, tax authorities, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission will be able to request and review financial transactions as far back as 2015. The reform, introduced in response to recommendations from the International Monetary Fund, aims to boost transparency by enabling authorities to better trace suspicious financial flows, detect money laundering, and uncover concealed assets. Investigations related to corruption and financial crimes are also expected to benefit, as prosecutors will now be able to gain access to a larger set of financial history records.
Sources: Annahar, Financial Times, LBC International, L’Orient Today, L’Orient Le Jour
March 2025
Re-authorization of government cooperation allows investigation into Beirut port blast to resume
On 10 March, interim Public Prosecutor Jamal Hajjar overturned a directive by his predecessor, Ghassan Oueidate, which had barred security and judicial authorities from cooperating with Judge Tarek Bitar, the lead investigator of the 2020 Beirut port explosion. In January 2023, Oueidate had controversially ordered the release of 17 detainees linked to the blast and accused Bitar of exceeding his mandate after he indicted several senior officials. By blocking cooperation with Bitar, the investigation was obstructed. While Hajjar’s decision does not reverse the release of the detainees, it restores Bitar’s authority to request evidence and rely on law enforcement to execute summons and arrest warrants, powers previously stripped from him. The move marks a key step in reviving the long-stalled investigation, which resumed in January. After a new cabinet formed in February, Hajjar was confirmed as Chief Public Prosecutor on 31 March, making his appointment permanent after serving in an acting role since early 2024, following Oueidate’s retirement.
Sources: Le Orient L’Jour (1), Le Orient L’Jour (2), Le Orient L’Jour (3), National News Agency, Human Rights Watch, International IDEA
January 2025
Parliament elects Joseph Aoun as president ending deadlock
On 9 January, the Lebanese parliament elected Joseph Aoun as president, ending a political deadlock of two years in which the country had been without a president. On 13 January, Aoun appointed Nawaf Salam, then President of the International Court of Justice, as prime minister, with 84 out of 128 MPs approving the designation. This development ends over two years of political impasse that stalled the presidential and prime ministerial elections and left Lebanon under a caretaker government with limited powers. PM Salam now faces the challenge of forming a new cabinet amid reports of persisting political fragmentation and external pressure over key ministerial appointments. The next parliamentary elections are expected to take place in 2026.
Update: On 8 February, Prime Minister Salam formed a 24-member cabinet. His government secured a parliamentary confidence vote on 26 February, with the backing of 95 out of 128 MPs.
Sources: L’Orient Le Jour, Al Arabiya, Reuters, Al Jazeera, LBCI, Middle East Eye, L’Orient Le Jour (2)
See all event reports for this country
Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2024
Basic Information
Human Rights Treaties
State party
Signatory
No action
Performance by category over the last 6 months
Global State of Democracy Indices
Hover over the trend lines to see the exact data points across the years
Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time
Use the slider below to see how democratic performance has changed over time
