Strong Republic (Lebanon)

Strong Republic (Arabic: الجمهورية القوية) is the parliamentary bloc of the Lebanese Forces in the Lebanese Parliament. It is headed by member of parliament and vice president of the Lebanese Forces party Georges Adwan. The bloc has been made up of 19 MPs since the 2022 general election making it the largest bloc in the Lebanese Parliament.[1]

Strong Republic
الجمهورية القوية
Legislature(s)Parliament of Lebanon
Foundation21 June 2005
Member partiesLebanese Forces
National Liberal Party
PresidentSamir Geagea
Constituency
General secretaryEmile Moukarzel
Representation
19 / 128(15%)
IdeologySovereigntism
Nationalism
Political positionOpposition
WebsiteThe Strong Republic Bloc official page

Election summary

Election Seats Change
2005
6 / 128(5%)
New
2009
8 / 128(6%)
Increase 2
2018
15 / 128(12%)
Increase 7
2022
19 / 128(15%)
Increase 4

2005–2009 session deputies

Name Election Area Political Affiliation Sect
Farid Habib Koura   Lebanese Forces Greek Orthodox
Antoine Moussa Zahra Batroun   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Sethrida Tawk Bsharri   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Elie Keyrouz Bsharri   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Georges Adwan Chouf   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Edmond Naim Baabda   Independent Maronite

2009–2018 session deputies

Name Election Area Political Affiliation Sect
Farid Habib Koura   Lebanese Forces Greek Orthodox
Antoine Moussa Zahra Batroun   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Sethrida Geagea Bsharri   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Elie Keyrouz Bsharri   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Georges Adwan Chouf   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Tony Abou Khater Zahle   Lebanese Forces Greek Catholic
Shant Chinchinian Zahle   Lebanese Forces Armenian Orthodox
Joseph Maalouf Zahle   Lebanese Forces Greek Orthodox

2018–2022 session deputies

Name Election Area Political Affiliation Sect
Imad Wakim Beirut I   Lebanese Forces Greek Orthodox
Wehbe Katicha Akkar   Lebanese Forces Greek Orthodox
Fady Saad Batroun   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Sethrida Tawk Bsharri   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Joseph Ishac Bsharri   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Ziad Hawat Byblos   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Chawki Daccache Keserwan   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Eddy Abillammaa Metn   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Pierre Bou Assi Baabda   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Anis Nassar Aley   Lebanese Forces Greek Orthodox
Georges Adwan Chouf   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Georges Okeis Zahle   Lebanese Forces Greek Catholic
Antoine Habchi Baalbeck Hermel   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Jean Talouzian

Expelled in October 2020

Beirut I   Independent Armenian Catholic
Cesar Maalouf

Expelled in August 2021

Zahle   Independent Greek Orthodox

2022–2026 session deputies

Name Election Area Political Affiliation Sect
Ghassan Hasbani Beirut 1   Lebanese Forces Greek Orthodox
Jihad Pakradouni Beirut 1   Lebanese Forces Armenian Orthodox
Elias Khoury North 2 - Tripoli   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Fadi Karam North 3 - Koura   Lebanese Forces Greek Orthodox
Sethrida Geagea North 3 - Bsharri   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Ghayath Yazbeck North 3 - Batroun   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Ziad Hawat Mount Lebanon 1 - Jbeil   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Chawki Daccache Mount Lebanon 1 - Kesserwan   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Melhem Riachy Mount Lebanon 2 - Metn   Lebanese Forces Greek Catholic
Razi El Hage Mount Lebanon 2 - Metn   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Pierre Bou Assi Mount Lebanon 3 - Baabda   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Nazih Matta Mount Lebanon 4 - Aley   Lebanese Forces Greek Orthodox
Georges Adwan Mount Lebanon 4 - Chouf   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Ghada Ayoub South 1 - Jezzine   Lebanese Forces Greek Catholic
Said Asmar South 1 - Jezzine   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Elias Estephan Bekaa 1 - Zahle   Lebanese Forces Greek Orthodox
Georges Okais Bekaa 1 - Zahle   Lebanese Forces Greek Catholic
Antoine Habchi Bekaa 3 - Baalbek-Hermel   Lebanese Forces Maronite
Camille Dory Chamoun Mount Lebanon 3 - Baabda   National Liberal Party Maronite

List of draft laws proposed in parliament

DateMPNameDetail
02-06-2012Elie Keyrouzabolish death penalty in LebanonThe death penalty should be eliminated in all instances within Lebanese legislation, particularly in the Penal Code and the Military Penal Code. Instead, it should be substituted with the punishment of life imprisonment with hard labor or life imprisonment, depending on the nature and circumstances of the committed crime.[2]
29-07-2016Elie Keyrouzabolish Lebanese rape-marriage law Article 522Introducing a law to abolish Article 522 of the Lebanese Penal Code, which allows the perpetrator of crimes of assault on honor to escape prosecution if he marries the victim.[3]
02-08-2023Melhem Riachi, Georges OkeisLegalize optional civil marriage in LebanonThe couple is free to choose any municipality for their marriage ceremony, as long as the municipality has at least 15 members. Their marriage will be legally recognized and governed by the court within the same jurisdiction. Non-Lebanese have the right to contract a civil marriage on Lebanese territory in accordance with this law.[4]

Bloc events summary

2005 Bloc

The bloc refused to vote for Nabih Berri in the 2005 Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament election.[5]

On 23 January 2006, MP Edmond Naim died.[6]

2009 Bloc

The bloc refused to vote for Nabih Berri in the 2009 Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament election.[7]

On May 31, 2012, MP Farid Habib died.[8]

On July 15, 2012, LF candidate Fadi Karam won the by-elections to fill the seat of late Farid Habib.[9]

On April 4, 2014, the bloc nominated party leader Samir Geagea for the 2014 Lebanese presidential election.[10]

In 2016, the bloc proposed a law that protects women and other family members from domestic violence.[11]

2018 Bloc

Members of the bloc refused to vote for Nabih Berri in the 2018 Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament election for the exception of Cesar Maalouf who was later expelled from the bloc on August 20, 2021.[12][13]

On August 31, 2020, the Strong Republic bloc named Nawaf Salam to form the government as Prime Minister.[14]

On October 22, 2020, MP Jean Talouzian was expelled from the bloc when he nominated Saad Hariri to be elected as Prime Minister unlike the rest of the Strong Republic bloc.[15]

2022 Bloc

The bloc refused to vote for Nabih Berri in the 2022 Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament election,[16] and had its MPs write "the strong republic" on their papers.[17]

On July 19, 2022, MP Razi El-Hage proposed a law to adopt the majority system in municipal elections.[18]

On September 14, 2022, LF boycotted the parliament session due to the memorial of Bachir Gemayel‘s assassination.[19]

The Strong Republic bloc initially endorsed Michel Moawad for the 2022-2023 Lebanese presidential election.[20] The bloc’s second endorsement was Jihad Azour.[21]

Bloc allies

See also

References

  1. "The 19 Lebanese Forces MPs wrote "the strong republic" on their papers to confirm that they did not vote for Berri" (in Arabic). mtv.com.lb. 31 May 2022.
  2. "الغاء عقوبة الاعدام في لبنان اقتراح قانون".
  3. "كيروز يتقدم بإقتراح قانون الغاء النص المتعلق بتزويج المُعتدى عليها من المعتدي".
  4. "بالوثيقة ـ الرياشي وعقيص يقدمان اقتراح قانون للزواج المدني الاختياري.. البلديات تتولى المراسم". Lebanese Forces. 2023-08-02.
  5. "نواب لقاء قرنة شهوان المسيحي الاقتراع بورقة بيضاء".
  6. "Former Bank of Lebanon governor dies".
  7. "Lebanese Forces have openly objected to Berri"s re-election".
  8. "Koura's LF MP Farid Habib Dies after Battle with Illness".
  9. "Fadi Karam won the north Lebanon Koura by-elections Sunday 15 July".
  10. "LF announces Geagea candidacy to presidential elections".
  11. "اقتراح تعديل قانوني".
  12. "سيزار معلوف خارج كتلة "القوات"".
  13. "Lebanese Forces Won't Vote for Berri".
  14. "نواف سلام مرشح "القوات" اليوم".
  15. "MP Jean Talouzian, who aligns with the Lebanese Forces, told VDL (93.3) that he's not a member of the party and that if his position isn't suitable for the LF, he will be outside its bloc".
  16. "رقم قياسي لرافضي انتخاب برّي".
  17. "The 19 Lebanese Forces MPs wrote "the strong republic" on their papers to confirm that they did not vote for Berri".
  18. "اقتراح قانون لاعتماد النظام الأكثري في الانتخابات البلدية".
  19. "Christian MPs boycotted the session to commemorate former President Bachir Gemayel's 40th assassination anniversary".
  20. "our candidate is Michel Moawad, says LF".
  21. "Christian blocs indicate support for Jihad Azour as a Lebanon presidential candidate".
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