User:Lizrael/SandBox

The Lebanese general election of 1992 were the first to be held after the outbreak 15 year long civil war. The previous elections were held in 1972, three years before the breakout of the war. These elections were held after the amendment of the Lebanese constitution in 1989 with by the the Taif Agreement. The Chamber of Deputies was increased in size to 128 members, shared equally between Christians and Muslims (before the agreement, the ratio was 6:5 in favor of the Christians, according to the National Pact of 1932.)

During 1972-1992 the Lebanese Parliament didn't change, but the parliament voted for five successive presidents.

Oppositon to the election

Most of the opposition leader oppsed the Taif Agreement and the holding of the election. Raymond Edde declared he will not participate in the elections if they were held in 1992. The Free Patriotic Movement headed by Michel Aoun also opposed the elections. The National Liberal Party, headed by Dory Chamoun also declared it's won't participate.. The Kataeb Party made several conflicting statements on the issue, but most of its supporters boycotted the elections. The Lebanese Forces headed by Samir Geagea also did not particiapate. The Maronite patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir opposed the elections. Many Christian politicians opposed the elections not only because of the Syrian occupation but also because many of the voters in Mount Lebanon, a predominatly Christian area, were still displaced due to the war and thus unable to vote.

Pro-Syrian ministers, on the other hand suppored holding the elections, according to schedule, and even implied that not holding them, might lead to civil war again.

Links

• Lebanon's First Postwar Parliamentary Election, 1992: An Imposed Choice, by Prof. Farid el Khazen