2026 Lebanese general election

2026 Lebanese general election

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All 128 seats to the Parliament of Lebanon 65 seats needed for a majority
Leader Samir Geagea Gebran Bassil Naim Qassem Party Lebanese Forces FPM Hezbollah Leader's seat Did not stand Batroun Did not stand Last election 19 17 15   Leader Nabih Berri Taymur Jumblatt Samy Gemayel Party Amal Movement PSP Kataeb Leader's seat Zahrani Chouf Metn Last election 15 8 4   Leader Hagop Pakradounian Suleiman Frangieh Michel Moawad Party Tashnag Marada Movement Independence Movement Leader's seat Metn Did not stand Zgharta Last election 3 2 2
Incumbent Prime Minister Nawaf Salam Independent

General elections are scheduled to be held in Lebanon in May 2026 to elect all 128 members of the Lebanese Parliament. ^[1] The elections will take place following the successful 2025 election of president Joseph Aoun. ^[2]

Background

Election of Aoun and appointment of Salam

On 9 January 2025, Aoun was elected president in the second round of the electoral session. ^[3] In his inaugural address, he vowed to fight the mafias, drug trafficking, interference in the justice system, corruption, poverty, and sectarianism. He also stated that he would promote economic, political, and judicial reform. ^{[4] [5]}

In one of his first acts as president, Aoun nominated Nawaf Salam, the head of the International Court of Justice, as Prime Minister of Lebanon after winning the majority of votes by the members of parliament. ^[6] Salam and Aoun's election is seen as a manifestation of Hezbollah's diminished influence in Lebanese politics, partly due to the group's military and financial losses in the conflict with Israel and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. ^{[7] [8]} Aoun formally appointed Salam as Prime Minister on 8 February 2025. ^[9]

Disarming of Hezbollah

Hezbollah, facing regional pressures and internal challenges, expressed willingness to discuss its armament, contingent upon Israel's withdrawal from contested territories in southern Lebanon and the cessation of military strikes. Aoun emphasized direct talks between the presidency and Hezbollah to establish "modalities" for transferring weapons to state control. ^[10] He stated that he aims to make 2025 the year of "state monopoly on arms". The Lebanese Army, under Aoun’s direction, was tasked with confiscating weapons and dismantling unauthorized military facilities in southern Lebanon. ^[11] This is in line with the ceasefire agreement following the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah conflict, which requires the army to extend state authority and remove all unauthorized arms caches and outposts, regardless of the group controlling them.

Electorate

Electoral system

In accordance with the Lebanese practice of political confessionalism, the Lebanese religious communities distribute reserved seats in the different constituencies according to their demographic weight. The distribution of votes is proportional. ^[12] Once all the ballot papers have been counted, the total of valid votes in each constituency is divided by the number of seats to be filled, which gives the electoral threshold necessary for a list to obtain a seat. ^[13] The distribution of seats is done between the lists having reached this quorum proportionally according to the percentage of votes obtained, then within the lists in accordance with the denominational quotas and the number of preferential votes obtained by the candidates. ^[13]

Electoral district under 2017 Election Law	Seats	Sunni	Shia	Druze	Alawite	Maronite	Greek Orthodox	Greek Catholic	Armenian Orthodox	Armenian Catholic	Evangelical	Minorities
Beirut I (East Beirut)	8					1	1	1	3	1		1
Beirut II (West Beirut)	11	6	2	1			1				1
Bekaa I (Zahle)	7	1	1			1	1	2	1
Bekaa II (West Bekaa-Rachaya)	6	2	1	1		1	1
Bekaa III (Baalbek-Hermel)	10	2	6			1		1
Mount Lebanon I (Byblos-Kesrwan)	8		1			7
Mount Lebanon II (Metn)	8					4	2	1	1
Mount Lebanon III (Baabda)	6		2	1		3
Mount Lebanon IV (Aley-Chouf)	13	2		4		5	1	1
North I (Akkar)	7	3			1	1	2
North II (Tripoli-Minnieh-Dennieh)	11	8			1	1	1
North III (Bcharre-Zghorta-Batroun-Koura)	10					7	3
South I (Saida-Jezzine)	5	2				2		1
South II (Zahrany-Tyre)	7		6					1
South III (Marjaayoun-Nabatieh-Hasbaya-Bint Jbeil)	11	1	8	1			1
Total	128	27	27	8	2	34	14	8	5	1	1	1
Source: elections.gov.lb

Registered voters

Preliminary lists of the numbers of voters (2025):

District	Resident registers	Non-resident registers	Total
Akkar	325,981	TBA	TBA
Aley	137,286	TBA	TBA
Baabda	174,345	TBA	TBA
Baalbek-Hermel	358,310	TBA	TBA
Batroun	62,651	TBA	TBA
Beirut I	TBA	TBA	TBA
Beirut II	TBA	TBA	TBA
Bint Jbeil	170,248	TBA	TBA
Bsharre	51,321	TBA	TBA
Chouf	218,104	TBA	TBA
Dinnieh	TBA	TBA	TBA
Jbeil	87,123	TBA	TBA
Jezzine	63,186	TBA	TBA
Keserwan	96,892	TBA	TBA
Koura	63,216	TBA	TBA
Marjaayoun-Hasbaya	182,725	TBA	TBA
Metn	183,774	TBA	TBA
Minnieh	TBA	TBA	TBA
Nabatieh	166,783	TBA	TBA
Sidon (City)	TBA	TBA	TBA
Tripoli	265,121	TBA	TBA
Tyre	213,063	TBA	TBA
West Bekaa-Rachaya	159,900	TBA	TBA
Zahle	187,912	TBA	TBA
Zahrani	TBA	TBA	TBA
Zgharta	83,159	TBA	TBA
Total	4,093,663	151,985	4,245,648
Source: Directorate General of civil status & Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants

Debate of changing the electoral law

With the 2026 parliamentary elections approaching, political debate is intensifying over which electoral law will govern the vote. The key question is whether elections will be held under the current proportional representation system with amendments or under an entirely new law, such as the "single electoral district" proposal by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. The proposed single electoral district system raises concerns among Christian parties and independent Christian MPs, who argue that it would significantly diminish the Christian political influence. ^[14]

Lebanese living abroad

See also: Lebanese diaspora

Lebanese citizens living abroad are eligible to participate in legislative elections. ^[15] Although the Lebanese diaspora is estimated to number several million, a significant portion no longer holds Lebanese nationality due to decades of emigration. Registration for the 2026 elections indicated continued engagement among expatriates, building on trends observed in previous electoral cycles.

Under the 2017 electoral law, six parliamentary seats are allocated specifically for the diaspora; however, expatriate votes are still counted within their respective domestic constituencies. ^[16] Voting for Lebanese abroad was organized in multiple phases, with citizens residing in Arab countries casting their ballots prior to the main election day in Lebanon, and those living in other regions voting shortly thereafter. Lebanese expatriates were reported to participate from dozens of countries worldwide.

Voter turnout for Lebanese living abroad

Electoral District	District	Votes	Registered	Total votes	Total Registered	% Participation
Beirut 1	East Beirut
Beirut 2	West Beirut
Bekaa 1	Zahle
Bekaa 2	Rachaya – West Bekaa
Bekaa 3	Baalbek – Hermel
Mount Lebanon 1	Keserouane
	Byblos/Jbeil
Mount Lebanon 2	Metn
Mount Lebanon 3	Baabda
Mount Lebanon 4	Aley
	Chouf
North 1	Akkar
North 2	Minieh
	Tripoli
	Denieh
North 3	Zgharta
	Bcharre
	Koura
	Batroun
South 1	Saida
	Jezzine
South 2	Tyre
	Zahrani
South 3	Hasbaya – Marjayoun
	Bint Jbail
	Nabateye
Total	Lebanon		151,985		151,985

Registered voters per country

Rank	Country	Registered voters (2022)	Registered voters (2026) [17]
Europe		69,462	56,133
1	France	28,136
2	Germany	16,171
3	United Kingdom	6,535
4	Sweden	4,023
5	Belgium	3,092
6	Switzerland	2,601
7	Italy	2,128
8	Spain	1,226
9	Netherlands	965
10	Cyprus	840
11	Denmark	706
12	Romania	696
13	Greece	528
14	Ukraine	341
15	Russia	323
16	Austria	282
17	Ireland	233
18	Hungary	221
19	Poland	215
20	Luxembourg	200
Asia		56,285	30,147
1	UAE	25,066
2	Saudi Arabia	13,105
3	Qatar	7,344
4	Kuwait	5,760
5	Syria	1,018
6	Turkey	999
7	Oman	903
8	Iran	642
9	Bahrain	638
10	Jordan	483
11	Iraq	327
North America		56,671	34,969
1	USA	27,982
2	Canada	27,447
3	Mexico	1,242
Oceania		20,661	11,591
1	Australia	20,661	11,591
Africa		18,195	15,857
1	Ivory Coast	6,070
2	Nigeria	2,580
3	Congos	1,428
4	Ghana	1,012
5	Gabon	848
6	Sierra Leone	724
7	Senegal	707
8	Egypt	709
9	Benin	518
10	Togo	458
11	Zambia	409
12	South Africa	406
13	Liberia	376
14	Guinea	532
15	Angola	332
16	Mali	317
17	Burkina Faso	293
18	Morocco	248
19	Cameroon	228
South America		4,344	3,288
1	Brazil	2,861
2	Venezuela	991
3	Colombia	273
4	Ecuador	219
Total		225,618	151,985

Online Voter Registration for the Diaspora

The registration process for Lebanese expatriates to vote in the 2026 Lebanese parliamentary elections saw the launch of a new dedicated online platform by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants. The initiative aimed to significantly increase diaspora participation and streamline the logistical process for voting abroad. ^[18]

Launch and Mechanism

On October 2, 2025, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Youssef Rajji, officially announced the opening of the digital voter registration platform. ^[19] This launch was a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, designed to implement the provisions of Lebanon’s electoral law concerning non-resident citizens.

The registration period commenced immediately following the announcement, running from October 2, 2025, until November 20, 2025 (midnight Beirut time). Eligible citizens—those born on or before March 30, 2005—are required to register their intent to vote at a specific Lebanese embassy or consulate in their country of residence.

The online platform, accessible via the Foreign Ministry’s official website, requires applicants to provide personal details, verify their existing information on the electoral rolls, and upload mandatory documentation:

- A Lebanese identification document (ID card, valid or expired passport, or civil status record).

- A proof of residency outside Lebanon (e.g., residency permit, foreign ID, or foreign driver's license).

The platform was intended to clarify and accelerate the registration process, particularly in anticipation of a high turnout following the significant participation observed in the 2022 elections. ^[20]

See also

• 2022–2025 Lebanese presidential election

External links

• Elections.gov.lb (official website)

References

1. "All eyes on the 2026 Legislative Elections and the post Hezbollah-Amal alliance era". L'Orient Today. 2025-04-11. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
2. Todman, Will (2025-01-10). "Lebanon Finally Elects a President". Center for Strategic and International Studies .
3. "Lebanon's army chief Joseph Aoun elected president". Al Arabiya. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
4. "Joseph Aoun, elected president, wants Lebanese state to invest in its army to protect its borders, combat smuggling, terrorism, Israeli aggression | Our live coverage of the parliamentary session". L'Orient Today. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
5. "انتخاب جوزيف عون رئيسا للبنان". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 10 January 2025.
6. "Head of the International Court of Justice is named Lebanon's new prime minister". AP News. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
7. Todman, Will (2025-01-10). "Lebanon Finally Elects a President". csis.org.
8. Bassam, Laila (14 January 2025). "PM-designate Salam extends hand to Hezbollah, aims to rebuild Lebanon". Reuters.
9. "War-torn Lebanon forms its first government in over 2 years". AP News. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
10. "Lebanese president says Hezbollah disarmament will come through dialogue not 'force'". AP News. 2025-04-14. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
11. "2025 to be 'year of state monopoly on arms': Joseph Aoun". L'Orient Today. 2025-04-15. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
12. Lebanon passing parliamentary law is a step in right direction Gulf News, 16 June 2017
13. Electoral system Inter-Parliamentary Union
14. "Lebanons 2026 elections: Debate over electoral law sparks political tensions". LBCIV7. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
15. "Articles of the Election Law 44/2017 and its amendments related to the suffrage of non-resident Lebanese on Lebanese territory". Elections.gov.lb (in Arabic).
16. "Hacking Lebanese Politics #15: The diaspora vote explained, only a few hours left to register". L’orient today. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
17. Note that the lebanese Ministry of Foreign affairs and emigrants has not released the number per country yet and should publish them between Feb-1-2026 to Mar-30-2026
18. "تسجيل اللبنانيين غير المقيمين للاقتراع في الانتخابات النيابية 2026". diasporavote.mfa.gov.lb. 2025.
19. "Lebanese expatriates: How to register to vote in the 2026 parliamentary elections". L'Orient Today. October 3, 2025.
20. Dagher, Georgia (February 2024). "HOW DID THE LEBANESE DIASPORA VOTE IN THE 2022 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS?" (PDF). Arab Reform Initiative.