Legal aspects

Modalities of the presidential election in Lebanon

Lebanon’s presidential election has to take place in parliament between September 25 and November 24, 2007 when incumbent President Emile Lahoud’s term ends.

Under an unwritten agreement following Lebanon’s 1943 independence, the president is a Maronite Christian while the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of parliament a Shiite Muslim.
The Maronites make up the largest number of Christians in Lebanon.

The president is elected for a six-year term and may not be re-elected until six years after the expiration of his last mandate.

Lawmakers can vote for declared candidates, but also for any other Lebanese citizen who fulfills the conditions of eligibility for parliament.

According to article 49 of the constitution, the president is elected by secret ballot and by a two-thirds majority of the parliament — or 85 MPs of the current 127-member house. After a first ballot, a simple majority — or 64 MPs — is sufficient.

In the event a new president is not elected during the first session, the parliament speaker can convene the legislature for a second meeting to hold a new election.

If the parliament speaker fails to call a second session, parliament shall meet automatically on the 10th day preceding the expiration of the president’s term of office — or November 14.

Should the post of head of state be left vacant, presidential powers are automatically transferred to the government.

Lebanon’s feuding political parties have been at odds over the required quorum in parliament to elect the president as the constitution is ambiguous and does not clearly mention the number of lawmakers that need to be present for a vote to go through.

Traditionally, however, presidents have been elected with two-thirds of lawmakers present.

Parliament speaker Nabih Berri, a key leader of the opposition, which has factions backed by Syria and Iran, insists that the presidential election requires a two-thirds quorum.

Members of the Western-backed ruling majority however maintain that only the presence of a simple majority of MPs is required for the poll.