The March 8 Alliance (Arabic: تحالف 8 آذار, romanized: taḥāluf 8 adhār) is a loose coalition of political parties and independents in Lebanon formed in 2005 that are united by their pro-Syrian[1] stance and their opposition to the former March 14 Alliance. It was the ruling coalition in Lebanon with the government headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati from June 2011 until March 2013.[2] Main parties of the March 8 Alliance are part of the third Cabinet of Najib Mikati since 2021.[3]
March 8 Alliance تحالف 8 آذار | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 8 March 2005 |
| Ideology | Pro-Syria Factions Arab socialism Syrian nationalism Lebanese nationalism Arab nationalism Shia Islamism Baathism Christian democracy Social democracy Pro-Iran Anti-Zionism |
| Political position | Big tent |
| Colors | Orange, white |
| Parliament of Lebanon | 61 / 128 |
| Cabinet of Lebanon | 16 / 24 |
History
editThe name dates back to 8 March 2005 when different parties called for a mass demonstration in downtown Beirut in response to the Cedar Revolution.[4] The demonstration thanked Syria for helping stop the Lebanese Civil War and the aid in stabilising Lebanon and supporting the Lebanese resistance to the Israeli occupation.[5] Free Patriotic Movement led by Michel Aoun eventually joined the rival March 8 Alliance, becoming one of its principal coalition partners.
Inclusion of Free Patriotic Movement
editThe Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) was the basis of the March 14 Alliance movement. FPM launched the Liberation War against the Syrian Army on 14 March 1989 and participated in all demonstrations against the Syrian occupation until the Cedar Revolution's mass demonstration on 14 March 2005.[6] The FPM split from the March 14 Alliance on 6 February 2006, when its leader Michel Aoun signed a memorandum of understanding with Hezbollah.[7] FPM considered its project against the Syrian government completed when the Syrian Army left Lebanon at the end of April 2005.[8]
Ruling Alliance (2011–2013)
editThe Progressive Socialist Party left the March 14 alliance in January 2011 after being one of its cornerstones and ostensibly aligned itself with the alliance's Change and Reform bloc after Walid Jumblatt visited Damascus. This move gave the alliance and its partners a majority in the parliament, enabling them to name Najib Mikati as prime minister to form the Lebanese government of June 2011.[9]
The government led by March 8 Alliance survived 22 months until Mikati's resignation on 23 March 2013.[10]
2016 presidential elections
editAfter a presidential vacuum that lasted from 23 April 2014 until 31 October 2016, the Parliament was able to elect MP and former General Michel Aoun, who in turn nominated March 14 member Saad Hariri as Prime Minister.
2018 legislative elections
editThe alliance emerged victorious as they gathered 76 seats out of 128 (60%), in the first legislative elections since 2009.
2019 cabinet
editThe Alliance had 18 out of 30 ministers (60%) in the Lebanese Cabinet; it was equally represented in both parliament and cabinet.
| Name | Party | Portfolio (Ministry) | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elias Bou Saab | Free Patriotic Movement | Minister of Defense | Greek Orthodox |
| Gebran Bassil | Free Patriotic Movement | Minister of Exterior and Expatriates | Maronite |
| Saleh Gharib | Lebanese Democratic Party | State Minister for Refugees Affairs | Druze |
| Ghassan Atallah | Free Patriotic Movement | Minister of Displaced | Greek Catholic |
| Nada Boustani | Free Patriotic Movement | Minister of Energy and Water | Maronite |
| Avedis Guidanian | Tashnag | Minister of Tourism | Armenian Orthodox |
| Hassan Mrad | Union Party | State Minister for Foreign Trade | Sunni |
| Albert Serhan | Free Patriotic Movement | Minister of Justice | Greek Orthodox |
| Salim Jreissati | Free Patriotic Movement | State Minister for Presidential Affairs | Greek Catholic |
| Mansour Bteich | Free Patriotic Movement | Minister of Economy and Trade | Maronite |
| Fadi Jreissati | Free Patriotic Movement | Minister of Environment | Greek Catholic |
| Youssef Finianos | Marada Movement | Minister of Public Works and Transport | Maronite |
| Ali Hassan Khalil | Amal Movement | Minister of Finance | Shia |
| Muhammad Daoud | Amal Movement | Minister of Culture | Shia |
| Hassan Lakkis | Amal Movement | Minister of Agriculture | Shia |
| Jamil Jabak | Independent | Minister of Public Health | Shia |
| Muhammad Fneish | Hezbollah | Minister of Youth and Sports | Shia |
| Mahmoud Kmati | Hezbollah | State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs | Shia |
September 2021 Cabinet
editThe Alliance has 16 out of 24 ministers (66%) in the current Lebanese Cabinet; it is equally represented in both parliament and cabinet.
2022 legislative elections
editThe alliance gathered 61 seats out of 128 (47%) and lost their parliamentary majority but still won the Parliament speaker election.[11]
The 2022 Strong Lebanon bloc was formed by FPM (17), Tashnaq (3) and Akkar MP Mohamad Yehya.[12]
The March 8 Alliance Today
editSince 2020, the governance of Lebanon has been led by the March 8 alliance, with notable economic changes observed during this period. Lebanon's GDP experienced a significant decline, dropping from 51.8 billion in 2019 to 23.13 billion in 2023.[13]
Constituent parties
editIt currently holds roughly 51 of 128 seats in the parliament after the 2022 elections and consists of:[14][15]
Former or inactive members
References
edit- ^ Daoud, David (January 12, 2017). "Hezbollah's Latest Conquest: Lebanon's Cabinet". Newsweek.
- ^ March 8 finished, Aoun out in the cold Archived November 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine The Daily Star 10 July 2013
- ^ Cornet, Wassim (May 17, 2022). "Lebanon's Hezbollah, allies lose parliament majority in elections". France 24. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ "Hezbollah rallies Lebanese to support Syria". CNN. March 9, 2005. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
- ^ Fattah, Hassan M. (March 8, 2005). "Hezbollah Leads Huge Pro-Syrian Protest in Central Beirut". The New York Times.
- ^ "Lebanon.com Newswire - Local News August 7 2001". www.lebanon.com. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- ^ "Lebanese Christians shocked over Shia politics but this could be just the beginning | Ali al-Amin". AW. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ^ Rudy Jaafar and Maria J. Stephan, "Lebanon's Independence Intifada: How an Unarmed Insurrection Expelled Syrian Forces", in Maria J. Stephan (ed.), Civilian Jihad: Nonviolent Struggle, Democratization, and Governance in the Middle East, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2009, pp. 169-85.
- ^ William Harris (July 19, 2012). Lebanon: A History, 600-2011. Oxford University Press. p. 274. ISBN 978-0-19-518111-1. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ El Basha, Thomas (March 22, 2013). "Lebanese PM announces resignation of his government". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- ^ "Lebanon election: Hezbollah and allies loose parliamentary majority". BBC News. May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "تكتل لبنان القوي ٢١ نائبا".
- ^ "Lebanon GDP 1988-2024". macrotrends.net.
- ^ Bou Khzam, Ruba. "Lebanon elections results 2022". L'Orient - Today. 961. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
- ^ Keuchkerian, Karine (May 17, 2022). "Here Are The Full & Final Results Of Lebanon's Elections 2022". 961. 961News. Retrieved May 17, 2022.