Major Political Gatherings and Groupings

Qornet Shehwan Gathering

Announced on April 30, 2001 under the blessing of Patriarch Sfeir, the gathering calls for the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty and independence through the implementation of the Taif clause calling for the redeployment of the Syrian troops to the Bekaa as a prelude to their complete withdrawal. The gathering includes 29 center and center-right moderate Christian parliamentarians, politicians, activists, party representatives, presidential aspirants and intellectuals. Of its prominent members are Amine Gemayel (Former President, Phalange, Maronite), Nayla Mouawad (MP, Maronite), Boutros Harb (MP, presidential aspirant, Maronite), Elias Skaff (MP, Maronite), Nassib Lahoud (MP, Presidential Aspirant, Maronite), Fares Soueid (MP, Maronite), Mansour el Bonn (MP, Maronite), Antoine Ghanem (MP, Maronite, Phalange), Salah Honein (MP, Maronite), Pierre Gemayel (MP, Maronite, Phalcnge), Dory Chamoun (National Liberal Party, Maronite), Miche! Khoury (Former Minister, Maronite), Antoine Kleemos (National Bloc, Maronite), Jean Aziz (Lebanese Forces, Maronite replacing Toufic Hindi), Toufic Hindi (Lebanese Forces, Syriac Orthodox), Youssef Saadallah Khoury (Free Patriotic Movement, Maronite), Shakeeb Kortbawi (National Blcrt, Maronite), Hares Shehab (Maronite League, Maronite), Kamil Ziadeh (Former MP, Maronite), Nadim Salem (Former MP, Catholic), Gebran Tueni (An-Nahar chairman, Orthodox), Farid el-Khazen (Chairman of AUB Political Science Department, Maronite), Simon Karam (Former Ambassador of Lebanon in Washington, Maronite), Samir Frangieh (Center-left politician, Maronite), Samir Abdel Malak (National Bloc, Maronite), Sami Nader (Free Patriotic Movement, Maronite), Elias Abou Assi (National Liberal Party, Maronite), Elie Karameh (Phalange, Catholic), Salim Salhab (National Bloc, Maronite), Jad Nehmeh (politician, Maronite). Note: FPM representatives are not currently playing any active role in the grouping.

Democratic Forum

A broad-based non-confessional coalition of rightist, centerright, leftist and independent politicians, the Democratic Forum is led by former south Lebanon MP and veteran politician Habib Sadek. The Forum demands the correction of Lebanese-Syrian relations with a view to make them more balanced and equal. Formerly very close to Druze overlord MP Walid Jumblatt, relations between the Forum and Jumblatt have experienced a widening rift ever since Jumblatt decided to modify his political discourse to suit the post-September 11 phase. The Forum includes the Communist Party's National Council member, Elias Atallah, MP Nassib Lahoud, center left activist Samir Frangieh, former MPs Nadim Salem, Camille Ziadeh, MPs Nayla Mouawad, Nassib Lahoud, Mansour Bone, journalist Gebran Tueni, National Liberal Party Leader Dory Chamoun, Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement representative Nadim Lteif, and representative from the Lebanese Forces.

Parliamentary Consultative Gathering

A broad-based coalition of pro-Syrian loyalist Christian parliamentarians, the Consultative Grouping was launched from the Parliament's headquarters on August 28, 2002 as a forum bringing together 42 Christian parliamentarians from the Hariri, Berri, Jumblatt and pro-Lahoud blocs to counterbalance the growing influence of the Christian opposition. The Consultative Gathering aims at demonstrating that no single group represents the aspirations of the Lebanese Christian community. It calls for countering the rising confessional discourse, supports Lebanon's commitment to liberating the remaining occupied territories by all possible means, asserts Lebanon's commitment to a strategic alliance with Syria, and contends that the Syrian military presence on Lebanese soil is temporary, necessary and legitimate. Members of the gathering are Ministers Suleiman Frangieh (Minister, Maronite), Qaissar Mouawad (MP, Maronite), Mikhael Daher (MP, Maronite), Jean Obeid (MP Maronite), Farid Mekarri Fayez Ghosn, Salim Saadeh (MPs Orthodox), Qabalan Issa Khoury (MP, Maronite), Gebran Taouk (MP, Maronite), Karim Rassi (MP, Maronite), Sayed AkI (MP, Orthodox) Michel Murr (MP, Orthodox), Ghassan Ashqar and Emile Lahoud Jr. (MPs, Maronite), Antoine Haddad (MP, Catholic), Nazem Khoury (MP, Maronite), Yeghia Djerjian, Fouad Saad (Minister, Maronite), Elie Aoun, Nabil Boustany and George Dib Nehmeh (MPs, Maronite), Antoine Andraous (MP, Orthodox), Sebouh Hovnanian (MP, Armenian Orthodox), Ghattas Khoury (MP, Maronite), Jean Ogassapian, Hagop Kassadjian and Yeghia Djerdjian (MPs, Armenian Orthodox), Serge Toursarkissian (MP, Armenian Catholic), Nabil De Freij (MP, minorities), Michel Pharaon (Minister, Catholic), Atef Majdalani (MP, Orthodox), Bassel Fleihan (Minister, Evengelical), Michel Moussa (Minister, Catholic), Antoine Khoury (MP, atholic), Samir Azar (MP, Maronite), Assaad Hardan (MP, Orthodox), Khalil Hrawi (Minister, Maronite), Elie Ferzli (MP, Orthodox), Marwan Fares (MP, Catholic), Nader Sukkar (MP, Maronite), and Robert Ghanem (MP, Maronite) George Kassardji (MP, Armenial Orthodox), Youssef Maalouf (Orthodox, Zahleh).

Islamic Consultative Gathering

Sponsored by Grand Mufti of Lebanon Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani and the Higher Shiite Council, the pro-Syrian loyalist Islamic Consultative Gathering was announced during a meeting attended by senior Muslim clerics, politicians, and representatives of Muslim parties, organizations and groups, held in the Hamad Seminary in Tariq Jadida suburb. The group, which includes representatives of Sheikh Qabbani, the Shiite Higher Council, PM Hariri, Speaker Berri, and Mourabitoun, fully supports the strategic alliance between Lebanon and Syria and believes that the continued talk by Christian leaders about independence and sovereignty threatens a big national crisis. It also warns that the Christian opposition's reliance on the United States to change conditions in Lebanon is unacceptable. They also reject any dialogue with groups associated with the Syria Accountability Act and the recently convened Maronite Conference in Los Angeles. Prominent members of the Gathering members are: MPs Nasser Qandil, Adnan Arakji, Bassem Yamout, Former PM Rashid Solh, North Lebanon Mufti Taha Sabonji, Representative of Shiite Higher Council deputy-president Sheikh Mohammad Ali Mokdad, Mount Lebanon Mufti Mohammad Ali Jouzou, Monah Solh, Ahbash representative Abdel Kader Fakhani, Mourabitoun representative Nuhad Orfali, Islamic Gathering Movement leader Saadeddine Hamidi Sakr, head of Social Cultural Preachers Association delegation Sheikh Nabil Wazzi, Head of Islamic Youth Association Sheikh Ziad Sabbah, Omar Messeikeh, Abdel Rahman Shaikha, Mohammad Amine Daouk, Salah Salam, a delegation of the Union of Beiruti Organizations, and a delegation of the Hariri Organization Alumni Association.

The Bristol Gathering

The largest multi-sectarian opposition bloc in the history of Lebanon was born in Beirut on December 13, 2004 with Druze overlord and MP Walid Jumblat taking center stage. Scores of Muslim and Christian politicians critical and opposed to the Syrian-backed regime of President Emile Lahoud met at the Bristol Hotel and announced an historical document known as the Bristol Declaration. It denounced the amendment of the Lebanese constitution and the extension of Lahoud's term in office under Syrian duress, demanded a fair and just election law and an impartial government to supervise the upcoming elections next year. (For details, please click here)

The Ain El Tineh Gathering
Formed on February 8. 2005 in the aftermath of the  'Bristol Gathering', The Ain El Tineh Gtharing grouped Syria's allies in Lebanon, with the purpose of steereing a political course following the formation of the powerful anti Syrian Bristol gathering. (For details, please click here)