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LBCI
3 days ago
- General
- LBCI
Zafer Nasser to LBCI: Backs Aoun's approach to Hezbollah arms, slams party's moral judgments
Progressive Socialist Party Secretary General Zafer Nasser voiced support for President Joseph Aoun's handling of the Hezbollah weapons issue, describing it as the most effective and reasonable approach compared to others. Speaking on LBCI's "Nharkom Said" TV show, Nasser said Hezbollah has no right to decide who is patriotic and who isn't, stressing that the party cannot grant 'certificates of nationalism' or accuse others of treason. Commenting on the municipal and local elections, Nasser explained that from the moment elections were announced, the party leadership decided to give local communities the freedom to make their own choices. 'We didn't run formal partisan lists in the traditional sense — it wasn't about the party fielding a list against another,' he said.
L'Orient-Le Jour
09-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
MPs propose bill to allow expatriates to vote for all parliamentarians
Several lawmakers presented a bill to Parliament on Friday aimed at allowing Lebanese expatriates to vote from their countries of residence based on the district of their region of origin, not for the six MPs reserved for the diaspora, as stipulated in the 2017 electoral law. Member of Parliament Georges Okais, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, explained that "expatriates should be able to vote for the 128 deputies according to the district of the region they originate from in Lebanon to truly participate in Lebanese political life and not just for six MPs reserved for the diaspora, as the law stipulates." The 2017 electoral law was the first to enshrine the voting rights of expatriates from their country of residence. However, it included a clause allocating six MPs to the diaspora, one per continent, from which they should choose, in addition to the 128 MPs, which many observers consider unfairly restrictive. However, this clause was not fully implemented during the 2022 legislative elections. While expatriates were able to vote, they did so based on their district of origin in Lebanon, without the six diaspora MPs being added to the total number of parliamentarians. An amendment to the law had been exceptionally adopted for that single election. The clause of the six MPs reserved for the diaspora would apply to the next legislative elections in 2026. This proposal was presented to Parliament on Friday by MPs Georges Okais (Lebanese Forces), Faysal al-Sayegh (Progressive Socialist Party), Michel Doueihy, Ibrahim Mneimneh, Melhem Khalaf, and Najat Aoun Saliba (protest), but it was signed by many MPs from various political affiliations. According to their statement, the proposal concerns a legislation that carries the character of double urgency to amend electoral law 144/2017, granting expatriates the right to vote for all members of Parliament, "enshrining their stable and definitive constitutional right to choose their representatives in Lebanon."
L'Orient-Le Jour
08-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Jumblatt thanks Macron after Sharaa's visit to the Elysee
Druze leader Walid Jumblatt thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for his "courage and audacity," following the reception at the Elysee on Wednesday of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, during a first controversial visit to the West by the de facto leader of Syria. "Dear President Macron, I congratulate you on your courage and audacity in favor of the advent of a new Syria, free from oppression and dictatorship, in the face of dismantling projects carried by certain external powers. Thank you for this great support in favor of the stability of Syria and Lebanon," wrote the former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP). Last Friday, Jumblatt traveled for the second time to Syria to meet its new leader, since the fall of the dictatorial regime of Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8, 2024. After the deadly clashes that occurred about ten days ago between Syrian Druze and Sunnis, raising fears of a threat of partition of the country, the former PSP leader renewed his unconditional support for the unity of Syria, on which he largely believes Lebanon's unity depends. For Jumblatt, it is about vigorously defending the Arab anchoring of the Druze and refusing Israel any alleged right to defend this community, which has a significant presence in southern Syria, at the border with the Hebrew state. Israel is accused by some experts of wanting to sow division in this country, a precursor to the partition of the country, notably to avoid having a strong Islamist power at its border.
L'Orient-Le Jour
07-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Hacking Lebanese Politics #7: What's up with the Druze?
You've been hearing the word 'Druze' a lot lately: headlines about Syria, Walid Joumblatt, Israeli airstrikes, even street tensions back home in Lebanon. But what's actually going on? Let's break it down. Who are the Druze, why do they matter in the region, and what's been happening lately? 1. So, who are the Druze minority in the region? And where do they stand in Lebanon? The Druze are a small religious minority in the Middle East, mostly found in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Israel, and the community ties are strong across borders. Their faith emerged in the 11th century as a secretive offshoot of Islam (more specifically Ismailism, which is a branch of Shiite Islam) with influences from Greek philosophy and mysticism. You can't convert in; you're born Druze. Druze have long played a major political role in Lebanon, despite only making up about five percent of the population. Two main families dominate: The Joumblatts, with Walid Joumblatt as the longtime leader (after his father Kamal Joumblatt, who founded the Progressive Socialist Party [PSP]), have historically opposed the former Syrian regime and leaned toward Arab nationalism and reform. The Arslans, led by Talal Arslan (who took over from his father Majid Arslan), were closely aligned with the Assad regime in Syria and often echoed pro-Damascus positions. When the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, these rivaling positions became even clearer: Joumblatt spoke out against Assad's repression, while Arslan doubled down on support for the regime. 2. Why are they in the news now? In recent weeks, things got heated in Syria, especially in Druze-majority areas like Jaramana and Sahnaya near Damascus. At least 100 people were killed and several were injured after clashes broke out on April 29 between local Druze gunmen and pro-government fighters, triggered by a fake audio clip insulting the Prophet Muhammad circulated online. To understand what's happening now, we need a bit of context. After years of war, Syria's new regime is now dominated by Islamist groups, including some with extremist roots. The new interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, is a former jihadist. While he's promised to protect minorities, sectarian violence continues. For the Druze, this is deeply unsettling. They still remember the 2018 Islamic State (ISIS) attack in Sweida, where dozens were killed and others kidnapped. Many Islamist groups view the Druze as heretics. In a bid to show his commitment to a more inclusive post-Assad Syria and to unifying and centralizing the country's authority, Sharaa signed two major agreements with minority groups. The first was with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to bring their autonomous administration under state control. The second was with Druze leaders to integrate their home province of Sweida into state institutions. This was not enough to stop the eruption of clashes, striking fear among the community. Not only in Syria but also for the neighboring Lebanese Druze. Walid Joumblatt, the longtime leader of the Druze in Lebanon, sprang into action. He reached out to regional powers (Saudi, Qatar, Turkey, UAE), made a surprise visit to Damascus, and called for calm and unity. His message? Don't let outside forces, especially Israel, drag the Druze into a war they don't want. 3. What's Israel got to do with this? A lot, actually. Israel has been bombing targets in Syria for years, but since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime on Dec. 8, 2024, it has intensified its attacks on military sites, moving further into Syrian territory. What's more, Israel is now publicly presenting itself as a protector of the Druze. It is important here to mention the Golan Heights, which is a strategic plateau situated between Syria, Lebanon and Israel. For Israel, the region is seen as crucial for its national security, giving it a military advantage over the three neighboring countries. Israel occupied it in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and later annexed it (only the U.S. recognized Israel's annexation; the U.N. considers the region as Syrian territory occupied by Israel). The Golan Heights is home to around 22,000 Druze who live as permanent residents. Most of them refuse Israeli citizenship, choosing to maintain their Syrian identity. But Israel's 'friendly' posture vis-à-vis the Druze is raising alarms. Joumblatt and others believe it's part of a long game, a way for Israel to divide Syria, isolate minorities, and gain influence under the cover of "protection." He's warned that if Druze in Syria or Lebanon get too close to Israel, it could spark a sectarian war, one that Israel won't pay the price for, but the Druze will. 4. What does this mean for Lebanon? Tensions almost spilled over. After the Syria clashes, some Druze youth in Aley attacked a Sunni cleric. It was quickly contained, but the fear of 'imported conflict' is real. That's why Joumblatt, Sheikh Sami Abilmona (the Druze spiritual leader), and top officials are working hard to prevent any spread. They've been coordinating with foreign ambassadors and the Lebanese Army to keep the peace. This isn't just about religion, it's about politics, identity, and survival. The Druze don't want to be pawns in anyone's game, whether it's Israel's, Syria's, or anyone else's.
L'Orient-Le Jour
05-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Behind Joumblatt's visit to Syria
By making a sudden visit to Syria on Friday, Druze leader Walid Joumblatt wanted to sound the alarm once again. Following dangerous developments last week between Syrian Druze and Sunnis, which raised fears of the country's potential partition, the former Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader renewed his unconditional support for Syrian unity, which he believes is largely dependent on Lebanon's initiative, which ardently defends the Druze's Arab roots at a time when Israel has stepped into the breach, claiming to defend this community, came the day after deadly incidents in early May between Druze militiamen and armed groups linked to the new power in Damascus. Context Joumblatt and Druze sheikh Akl condemn Israeli attacks in Syria Joumblatt did not make any statements following his meeting with...
