1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Lebanons 2018 Elections Carla E. Humud Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs May 11, 2018 On May 6, 2018, Lebanon held its first legislative elections in nine years. The results showed that parties allied with Hezbollah increa
2、sed their share of seats from roughly 44% to 53%. However, as in past Lebanese governments, rival parliamentary blocs will likely need to reach consensus in order to secure the passage of major policy initiatives. The 128 seats in Lebanons parliament, known formally as the Chamber of Deputies, are d
3、ivided evenly between Christians and Muslims. This reflects Lebanons broader political system in which power is divided among the countrys various religious groups or “confessions.” In what is referred to as Lebanons confessional system, the presidency is reserved for a Maronite Christian, the prime
4、 minister post for a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of parliament for a Shia Muslim. Confessional allotments (in varying proportions) also extend to the division of seats in electoral districts. The May 2018 parliamentary elections were the first since 2009 and the first held under Lebanons new elect
