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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]
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]
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.
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]
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]
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. [15]
On October 2, 2025, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Youssef Rajji, officially announced the opening of the digital voter registration platform. [16] 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. [17]
