Lebanon
Lebanon exhibits mid-level performance in the Representation, Rights and Participation categories of the Global State of Democracy framework. It performs in the low range with regard to Rule of Law. Over the last five years, GSoD data show significant declines in Economic Equality. Since 2019, a combination of factors, including government inaction on reforms and the lack of a fully functioning executive, have plunged the country into one of the worst economic crises in recent history. Consequently, the Lebanese pound has lost 98 per cent of its value, domestic prices have increased by more than 170 per cent, and poverty has surged affecting 44 per cent of the population.
Lebanon gained independence in 1943 after 23 years of French colonial rule. 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 current political discourse, particularly regarding Syrian refugees and Hezbollah's political and military role, contributing to endemic political instability in Lebanon.
Lebanon’s struggles today go beyond sectarian divisions, as the country struggles with governmental failures, from the lack of an inquiry into the 2020 Beirut port explosion to various economic crises and widespread corruption. These have exacerbated the existing socio-economic inequities. Women, disadvantaged by one of the world’s widest gender gaps and discriminatory legislation, have also disproportionately been affected by food insecurity and suffer from inequalities in labor market participation. The poor provision of basic public services has led to some healthcare and educational centers affiliated with communal groups, allowing for the social consolidation of Hezbollah. While in 2022, the Hezbollah-led bloc lost its majority in parliament, its involvement in politics has become a key state legitimacy challenge. This was evident in the repressive response to the massive 2019-2020 protests calling for constitutional and electoral reforms, which emerged from a public exhausted by economic meltdown, sectarianism, and corruption. Other salient issues have been the straining presence of over 1.5 million refugees, a presidential vacuum, and social welfare issues.
In this context, recent survey data show that a large majority of Lebanese citizens do not have confidence in their institutions, with particularly low numbers expressing confidence in access to justice and satisfaction with governance. A significant majority feel they are worse off than their parents.
Looking ahead, resolution of the current socioeconomic crisis is paramount. Democratization in Lebanon is dependent on the introduction of broad-reaching economic reforms and access to social protections as starting points for broader democratic progress.
Last Updated: June 2024
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)
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