2022 Lebanese presidential election

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2022 Lebanese presidential election
← 2014–2016 31 October 2022 2028 →
Incumbent President

Michel Aoun
Free Patriotic Movement



Politics of Lebanon
Coat of arms of Lebanon.svg

Arab League Member State of the Arab League

Constitution
Human rights
Executive
Legislature
Subdivisions
Elections
  • Recent elections
  • Political parties
Foreign relations

The 2022 Lebanese presidential election is an ongoing indirect election to elect the president of Lebanon following the expiration of term-limited incumbent Michel Aoun's mandate on 31 October 2022.[1] The outgoing president has served since 31 October 2016, following the end of the 2-year presidential crisis.[2]

By convention, the presidency is always held by a Maronite Christian. Under article 49 of the Lebanese Constitution, a qualified majority of two-thirds of the members of the Lebanese Parliament is required to elect the president in the first round. If no candidate reaches that threshold, further rounds of election are held where an absolute majority of the members legally constituting the parliament is sufficient to elect the president. The incumbent president is not eligible for reelection until six years has passed since the expiration of his mandate, as per article 49 of the Lebanese Constitution.[3]

Background

2019–21 protests

Main article: 17 October Revolution
2019 Lebanese protests in Antelias

Large-scale anti-government demonstrations ignited in the country from 17 October. Initially triggered in response to a rise in gas and tobacco prices as well as a new tax on messaging applications,[4] the demonstrations quickly turned into a revolution against the stagnation of the economy, unemployment, Lebanon's sectarian and hereditary political system, corruption and the government's inability to provide essential services such as water, electricity and sanitation,[5] Saad Hariri ended up resigning on 29 October 2019.[6]

Hassan Diab was appointed Prime Minister by President Michel Aoun on 19 December 2019.[7] His government obtained the confidence of parliament by 69 votes in its favour.[8]

However, the country's economic situation continued to deteriorate. The government was indebted to the tune of over 95 billion dollars by the end of 2020,[9] the Lebanese pound records a loss of 70% of its value in six months[10] and unemployment affects 35% of the active population.[11] Riots break out in Beirut and Tripoli and Jounieh.[11]

Beirut explosion

Main article: 2020 Beirut explosion

On 4 August 2020, the explosion of several thousand tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a hangar in the Port of Beirut caused considerable human and material damage across the city and the port. The final toll was 218 dead and over 7,000 injured[12] and damage estimated at nearly four billion euros by the World Bank and estimated to have left 300,000 homeless.[13] The industrial-port zone of the Port of Beirut's badly affected, further aggravating the economic situation. Vital for Lebanon, the port is the most important trading centres in Lebanon which ensures the transit of 60% of the country's imports.

Electoral system

The Constitution of Lebanon does not provide for a specific candidacy procedure. Therefore, no individuals can be deemed to be official candidates, but legally only express an interest in the position.

Under article 49 of the Lebanese Constitution, a qualified majority of two-thirds of the members of the Lebanese Parliament is required to elect the president in the first round. The quorum also amounts to two-thirds of the Parliament. In the second round, a President can be elected by a simple majority of 65 deputies. There is however ambiguity on the constitutionality of the two-thirds quorum, since constitutional texts do not explicitly mention it. Some have interpreted this omission as intentional, such as legal scholar Issam Khalifeh, while Speaker Nabih Berri has relied on the opposite interpretation to enable his allies to resort to quorum-busting. An example of this would be the 2014–2016 Lebanese presidential election, where quorum would not be met for forty-three electoral sessions.

The Constitution also states that, in the last ten days of the incumbent's tenure, the Parliament is vested in the powers of an electoral college.

National Pact

Main article: National Pact

Access to the Lebanese presidency is subject to an informal agreement known as the National Pact. Agreed in 1943, the latter limits this office only to members of the Maronite Christian faith.[14]

The National Pact is based on an unwritten agreement concluded in 1943 between the Maronite Christian president Bechara El Khoury and his Sunni prime minister Riad Al Solh when Lebanon gained independence from France. The pact stipulates that the President of the Republic must be a Maronite Christian, the Prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the Speaker of parliament a Shiite Muslim.[15]

Candidates

Declared interest

Unconfirmed

Kataeb Party

Lebanese Forces

Free Patriotic Movement

  • Gebran Bassil, MP (2018–present), incumbent party leader (2015–present) and former Minister of Telecommunications (2009–2009), Energy and Water (2009–2014) and Foreign Affairs (2014–2020)[26]
  • Nada Boustani Khoury, MP (2022–present) and former Minister of Energy and Water (2019–2020)
  • Ibrahim Kanaan, MP (2005–present) and Chairman of the Parliamentary Budget and Financial Affairs Commission (2009–present)

Other

Declined

  • Salim Eddé, CEO of Murex
  • Nassif Hitti, professor and former Minister of Foreign Affairs (2020)
  • Issam Khalifeh, historian, academic at the Lebanese University and trade unionist, first president of the National Union of Lebanese University Students

Results

First session

The first electoral session was held on 29 September 2022. The first and only round did not result in any candidate's election, due to the need to secure an absolute majority of 86 votes. Notably, 10 MPs voted for "Lebanon" while one vote went to Mahsa Amini. Before the second round, a number of deputies unexpectedly left the Chamber, leading the assembly to lose the quorum by one MP and postponing the vote.[29]

First Round[30]
Candidate Party Votes %
Michel Moawad IM 36 76.60
Salim Eddé Ind. 11 23.40
Valid votes 47 38.52
Blank votes 63 51.64
Invalid votes 12 9.84
Total 122 100
Eligible voters/turnout 128 95.31

Second session

A second session was held on 13 October but failed to secure a quorum with only 71 out of 128 deputies being there due to FPM boycotting the session in memorial of 13 October 1990, below the quorum of 2/3 (86 deputies).[31][32] A third one is scheduled for 20 October[33]

Third session

A third session was held on 20 October. Michel Moawad received 42 votes, 55 MPs voted with a blank slip, one MP voted for Milad Abou Malhab. 17 MPs submitted ballots reading "New Lebanon", and one each for "Ruler, savior and reformer", "For Lebanon", "Righteous dictator" and "Nobody".[34] The second round was once again cancelled as FPM deputies left the Chamber, causing the loss of the quorum. A fourth session is scheduled for 24 October.[35]

First Round[35]
Candidate Party Votes %
Michel Moawad IM 42 97.67
Milad Abou Malhab Ind. 1 2.33
Valid votes 43 36.13
Blank votes 55 46.22
Invalid votes 21 17.65
Total 119 100
Eligible voters/turnout 128 92.97

Fourth session

The fourth session to elect a president was held on October 24 with the presence of 114 deputies. In the first (and only) round, Moawad received 39 votes, while 50 blank ballots were registered, and 10 votes for Dr. Issam Khalifeh, a reputable academic nominated by a number of pro-Change MPs. A number of MPs voted "New Lebanon" as in the previous session, while Jamil Al Sayyed wrote "My Condolences" on his ballot paper. As per the previous sessions, quorum was lost before a second round could be held.[36]

First Round[37]
Candidate Party Votes %
Michel Moawad IM 39 79.59
Issam Khalifeh Ind. 10 20.41
Valid votes 49 42.98
Blank votes 50 43.86
Invalid votes 15 13.16
Total 114 100
Eligible voters/turnout 128 89.06

See also

References

  1. ^ "Le Liban en 2022 : des défis récurrents et une vacance présidentielle en vue?". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Michel Aoun elected president of Lebanon". www.aljazeera.com. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Lebanon's Constitution of 1926 with Amendments through 2004" (PDF). constituteproject.org. 27 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Lebanon protests: How WhatsApp tax anger revealed a much deeper crisis". BBC News. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  5. ^ "L'insurrection au Liban : révolution, unité et crise économique". lvsl.fr - Tout reconstruire, tout réinventer (in French). 12 December 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Lebanon's PM Saad Hariri resigns as protesters come under attack". the Guardian. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  7. ^ Hubbard, Ben; Saad, Hwaida (19 December 2019). "Lebanon, Mired in Crises, Turns to a Professor as Prime Minister". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  8. ^ Cornish, Chloe (19 December 2019). "Hassan Diab appointed Lebanon PM with Hizbollah backing". Financial Times. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Lebanon - national debt 2020". Statista. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  10. ^ Human Rights Watch (15 December 2020), Lebanon: Events of 2020, retrieved 16 February 2022
  11. ^ a b "Les Libanais ne décolèrent pas". Le Temps (in French). 13 June 2020. ISSN 1423-3967. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  12. ^ Wilkins, Charlotte (31 July 2021). "'They have to pay for what they did': Families of Beirut blast victims fight for justice". France 24. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Beirut explosion: Lebanon's government 'to resign' as death toll rises". BBC News. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Lebanon (01/94)". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Lebanese National Pact | History, Significance, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Bechara Abi Younes goes for the presidential elections". 18 August 2022.
  17. ^ "زياد حايك يُعلن ترشّحه لرئاسة الجمهورية: درب الرئاسة في لبنان أصعب من دول العالم وقرّرتُ عدم الالتزام بقواعد اللعبة لثقتي بأنه يجب أن نكسر التقليد بأنّ الرئيس لا يتقدّم من اللبنانيين بترشّحه".
  18. ^ Chehayeb, Kareem. "Lebanon presidential candidate backs anti-Hezbollah platform". ABC News. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Chamoun granddaughter launches bid for Lebanon presidency". Al Arabiya English. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  20. ^ "مرشّحة بشبكة علاقات عالمية... هل تٌصبح أوّل رئيسة للبنان؟". www.mtv.com.lb. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  21. ^ https://www.annahar.com/arabic/section/76-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9/27092022072842687
  22. ^ https://www.elnashra.com/news/show/1590346/%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%B3-%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%AD%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%A8-%D8%B1%D8%A6%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9
  23. ^ https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/d/lebanon/668066/%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%B9%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%AD%D9%87-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D9%86%D8%A7-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82/ar
  24. ^ a b Moubayed, Sami (21 April 2022). "Wives, sons, grandsons of powerful Lebanese Christian leaders unite against Aoun's son-in-law Bassil". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  25. ^ "Who are the most prominent potential candidates for the Lebanese presidency?". الشرق الأوسط (in Arabic). Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  26. ^ a b Prentis, Jamie (27 May 2022). "Lebanon braces for a drawn-out battle for the presidency after elections". The National. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Suleiman Franjieh will launch his presidential campaign". Bintjbeil.org (in Arabic). Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  28. ^ "Lebanon's Geagea Voices Support for Army Commander's Presidential Nomination". Asharq AL-awsat. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Lebanese parliament fails to elect new head of state". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  30. ^ Présidentielle libanaise : qui a voté pour qui ?
  31. ^ "Élection présidentielle: Le Liban mérite bien une renaissance". www.arabnews.fr. Retrieved 8 October 2022..
  32. ^ "La deuxième séance du Parlement pour élire un nouveau président levée faute de quorum : retrouvez notre direct". www.lorientlejour.com. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link).
  33. ^ Reuters (13 October 2022). "Lebanese parliament session to elect new president postponed till Oct 20". Reuters. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  34. ^ Présidentielle: Moawad progresse mais le blocage persiste
  35. ^ a b "Lebanese parliament fails again to elect a president". The Jerusalem Post. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  36. ^ https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1315579/pas-de-president-elu-a-lissue-de-la-4eme-seance-parlementaire.html
  37. ^ [1]
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