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Electoral Systems in Lebanon

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Electoral Framework

 

 
ES01. How is the Head of State selected?

d. Indirectly elected by legislature

comments: The President is elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term. By custom, the president is a Maronite Christian.

ES02. How is the Head of Government selected?

e. Appointed

comments: The Prime minister is appointed by the President of the Republic upon a binding consultation with the National Assembly. By custom the Prime minister is a Sunni Muslim.

ES03. Does the country have a president?

a. Yes

comments:

ES04. The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):

a. One chamber

comments: According to the Taef agreement, a senate must be established with the first national non-confessional legislative elections.

ES05. What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?

c. Block Vote

comments: Party Block Vote; an electoral system which falls somewhere between FPTP and the Block Vote system. As in FPTP, voters usually have a single vote, but unlike the FPTP, there are multi-member districts and voters choose between party lists of candidates rather than individuals. The party winning most votes takes all the seats in the district, and its entire list of candidates is duly elected. As for the FPTP system, there is no requirement to win an aboslute majority of the votes.

ES06. What is the electoral system for Chamber 2 of the national legislature?

k. The national legislature consists of one chamber only

comments:

ES07. If List PR is used, is a highest average formula used?

h. Not applicable

comments:

ES08. What is the level at which seats are distributed in Chamber 1?

c. Regional/provincial level

comments:

ES09. What is the level at which seats are distributed in Chamber 2?

d. Not applicable

comments:

ES10. Are special constituencies or seats reserved in Chamber 1 for specific groups, such as minorities, specific nationality or other groups?

a. Yes

comments: Seats are distributed 50% for Muslims and 50% for Christians and proportionally between their confessional communities.

ES11. If special constituencies or seats are reserved in Chamber 1, specify which interest groups, and the proportion of total seats reserved for:

Nationality or ethnic groups - proportion of total seats (%):

Women - proportion of total seats (%):

Religious groups - proportion of total seats (%): 100%

Other- proportion of total seats (%):

Not applicable:

comments: Seats are distributed 50% for Muslims and 50% for Christians and proportionally between the confessional communities of the two religions.

ES12. Are special constituencies or seats reserved in Chamber 2 for specific groups, such as minorities, specific nationality or other groups?

c. The national legislature consists of one chamber only

comments:

ES13. If special constituencies or seats are reserved in Chamber 2, specify which interest groups, and the proportion of total seats reserved:

Nationality or ethnic groups - proportion of total seats (%):

Women - proportion of total seats (%):

Religious groups - proportion of total seats (%):

Other - proportion of total seats (%):

Not applicable:

comments: Not applicable

ES14. What is the legally imposed minimum threshold of votes required by a party to win seats in Chamber 1?

a. No minimum

comments:

ES15. What is the legally imposed minimum threshold of votes required by a party to win seats in Chamber 2?

c. Not applicable

comments:

ES16. What is the legally imposed minimum threshold of votes required by a candidate (independent/party) to win a seat in Chamber 1?

a. No minimum

comments:

ES17. What is the legally imposed minimum threshold of votes required by a candidate (independent/party) to win a seat in Chamber 2?

c. Not applicable

comments:

ES18. Regarding the timing of the elections for Chamber 1, which of the following is true? Elections take place:

a. At fixed intervals (specify length)

comments: The legal term is four years, but the term of the last parliament elected in summer 2000 is extended ten months to May 31 2005.

ES19. Regarding the timing of the elections for Chamber 2, which of the following is true? Elections take place:

e. Not applicable

comments:

ES20. Regarding Chamber 1 elections (excluding advance voting, postal voting, etc):

b. Voting takes place over a period of 2 or more days

comments: For security reasons, elections may be appointed on several days for each constituency or more. In practice and for security reasons elections take place on two consecutive Sundays.

ES21. Regarding chamber 2 elections (excluding advance voting, postal voting, etc):

c. Not applicable

comments:




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