This is Beirut - Free Patriotic Movement

Jounieh: An Electoral Battle That Reshapes National Alliances

Élie-Joe Kamel, 01/05 12:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Free Patriotic Movement Lebanese Forces Hezbollah municipal elections Lebanon Jounieh

Jounieh’s upcoming municipal elections, scheduled for May 4, are shaping up to be a decisive political showdown. A broad coalition has formed to challenge the outgoing municipal council, which is closely aligned with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM). The stakes are high in Jounieh, once hailed as the “pearl of the Mediterranean” and one of ...

Baabda-Louaizeh: Families, Parties and Clientelism

Paul Guillot, 30/04 14:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Free Patriotic Movement Lebanese Forces Hezbollah municipal elections Lebanon Baabda-Louaizeh

On the eve of municipal elections in Baabda-Louaizeh, three competing lists are contending in a climate marked by family rivalries, sectarian tensions and shifting political alliances. Amid changing party loyalties, the clientelist influence of the village of Sebnay and a population eager for improved public services, Sunday’s vote could ...

New US Sanctions List to Reportedly Target Lebanese Politicians

This is Beirut, 29/04 17:10 - Reading : less than a minute

Free Patriotic Movement Gebran Bassil Hezbollah Washington Sanctions Lebanon

According to a Lebanese politician quoting an American official, “There is a new list of sanctions set to be announced soon, targeting political figures accused of corruption, others accused of financing Hezbollah, and a third group involved in money laundering and drug trafficking to fund the party.” The official reveals that Hezbollah is in ...

Municipal Elections in Batroun: A Shifting Political Landscape

Samar El-Kadi, 27/04 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Free Patriotic Movement Lebanese Forces Gebran Bassil Hezbollah municipal elections Batroun

Nine years after they were last held—after a hiatus marked by repeated postponements—municipal elections in Lebanon are scheduled to take place over four consecutive Sundays beginning on May 4. The conditions under which the 2016 elections were conducted have changed dramatically. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group, has lost significant ...

Gebran Bassil: Navigating His Political Exit Strategies

Johnny Kortbawi, 29/03 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Gebran Bassil Free Patriotic Movement Lebanese Forces Baalbeck Hezbollah

Gebran Bassil, the son-in-law of former President Michel Aoun, is hardly envied for his limited options, particularly with the upcoming parliamentary elections. He is growing increasingly concerned about the potential alliance between Majd Harb, son of former MP and Minister Boutros Harb, and the Lebanese Forces (LF) in Batroun, a partnership that ...

Ghada Aoun: Retirement Amid Judicial Controversies

Natasha Metni Torbey, 03/03 17:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Ghada Aoun Free Patriotic Movement Central Bank of Lebanon Judiciary Lebanon

She pursued her judicial campaign until the very last day before the official end of her tenure within the judiciary. On March 1, 2024, the prosecutor at the Mount Lebanon Court of Appeal, Ghada Aoun, who had been dismissed from her duties in May 2023 by the Judiciary’s Disciplinary Council, retired. True to her nature, however, she did not ...

Positive Atmosphere Marks First Half of Parliamentary Session

Lyne Sammouri , 25/02 15:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Free Patriotic Movement Lebanese Forces UN Security Council Hezbollah Israel

The first round of the confidence debate has concluded. On Tuesday, Parliament gathered for a two‐day plenary session, with around 75 parliamentarians set to speak and vote on whether to grant confidence to the new government, known as the “rescue and reform government.” For the cabinet to commence work, it must secure the ...

Tug of War Ahead of Government Formation to Address Upcoming Challenges

Bassam Abou Zeid, 20/01 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Free Patriotic Movement Lebanese Forces Amal Hezbollah

The process of forming the first government under the new presidential term remains focused on defining the qualifications and criteria for appointing ministers. While it is acknowledged that ministers cannot be entirely detached from political considerations—even if they are not directly affiliated with parties—the challenge lies in balancing ...

Non-Binding Consultations to Form Government Held in Berri’s Absence

This is Beirut, 15/01 22:04 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Amal Free Patriotic Movement Hezbollah Nawaf Salam government

Wednesday’s non-binding parliamentary consultations began with the notable absence of Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who was expected to meet with Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam before the beginning of discussions with MPs. Instead, consultations were launched by Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab, who commended Salam’s ...

Army Commander Fails First Round of Presidential Vote

This is Beirut, 09/01 13:23 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Amal Free Patriotic Movement Hezbollah Joseph Aoun presidential election

Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun failed to get elected as Lebanon’s new president in the first round of parliament voting on Thursday. Aoun received 71 votes, short of the 86 ballots that he needs to be elected in the first round. The ballots included 37 blank votes, two for Chebli Mallat and 18 invalid votes. The blank and invalid votes have ...

The Twelve Labors of… Parliament

Natasha Metni Torbey, 09/01 10:50 - Reading : 7 minute(s)

Free Patriotic Movement Amal Gebran Bassil Hezbollah Israel

Since the end of former President Michel Aoun's term in October 2022, Lebanon has been facing a period of presidential vacancy, accompanied by overlapping economic and security crises, the most recent being the war between Hezbollah and Israel. From political divisions to diplomatic visits, the Lebanese political scene has become mired in ...

Opposition and Change MPs to Announce Their Presidential Candidate Shortly

This is Beirut, 07/01 18:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Free Patriotic Movement Joseph Aoun Lebanese Forces

The opposition and Change MPs are gearing up for the upcoming presidential election session scheduled for January 9. MP Waddah Sadek revealed to LBCI that the opposition would announce its preferred presidential candidate tonight or tomorrow at 9 PM. He dismissed reports of General Baissari’s withdrawal, clarifying that Baissari has indicated ...

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