Lebanese general election, 2009

The most recent parliamentary elections in Lebanon took place on July 9, 2009.

Background

The political camps of Lebanon since 2005 are based on their attitude to the powerful neighbor Syria or to the output of the Cedar Revolution, which brought an end to the long-standing Syrian occupation. The March 14 alliance refers positively to this and to the legacy of the assassinated Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and is regarded as pro-Western, the alliance of March 8, however, is considered to be pro- Syrian and recalls in her name to a big demonstration in favor of Syria. She sees Israel as the primary enemy of Lebanon and combines, among other things schittische Hezbollah, but also the Christian Free Patriotic Movement. Thus, the political differences cut across the denominational groups of the extremely fragmented country. Before the election, the process for lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 was brought in transition, but could not be implemented before the elections, as this would have required a constitutional amendment.

Distribution of seats

As a result of the Doha Agreement, a new distribution of seats in the parliamentary elections was decided in 2008, unchanged voters vote according to their belonging to one of the religious communities.

Results

The turnout was about 55%. The distribution of seats by party is as follows:

Government formation

As is common due to the complicated political and religious situation in Lebanon, took to form a government five months. Only in November agreement on the composition of the new government could be achieved: 15 items for the March 14 Alliance, 10 for the Alliance of March 8, while 5 members were nominated by President Michel Suleiman, who sees himself as a neutral body; new Prime Minister Saad Hariri was ( according to the Lebanese constitution, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim must be ). On 12 January 2011 it was the failure of the run of Saad al -Hariri national unity government, were involved in the several ministers of Hezbollah. Hezbollah and allied with Hezbollah ex-general Michel Aoun had their ministers dismissed from the government because al -Hariri refused to speak out against the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which accuse those responsible for the assassination of his father Rafiq al -Hariri and to condemn. After Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, has not refocused his political position for the first time in the history of Lebanon since the outbreak of civil war in 1975 and now supports Hezbollah and its allies, the pro-Syrian, Hezbollah related Najib Miqati was the successor Saad al - Hariri selected in the Prime Minister's Office. He was then appointed by President Suleiman. Especially in the Sunni community the appointment Miqatis has led to violent demonstrations and expressions of displeasure. In Tripoli, but also in Beirut, car tires were set on fire and barricades.