# Forces of Change

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Parliamentary bloc in Lebanon

Forces of Change قوى التغيير Chamber Parliament of Lebanon Foundation 2022 Member parties Taqaddom Lana ReLebanon Watani Alliance Beirut Tuqawem Osos Lebanon Representation 9 / 128 (7%) Ideology Reformism Social democracy Secularism Political position Centre-left

The **Forces of Change** ([Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): قوى التغيير) is a parliamentary bloc in the Lebanese parliament which comprises multiple reformist parties and independent MPs. It originally consisted of 13 MPs following the [2022 Lebanese general election](/source/2022_Lebanese_general_election).

## Background

Many reformist groups emerged during the [2018 Lebanese general elections](/source/2018_Lebanese_general_election) standing against the 9-year ruling and mostly repeat deputies in parliament and sought for change. Most notable of the group was the Kuluna Watani alliance.[1] The alliance gathered with a new Political Party ("[Sabaa](http://www.sabaa.org/)") and 10 different campaigns and groups, most of which are connected to campaigns started in the protest movements of 2015 or the municipal elections of 2016.[2] The alliance included in addition to Sabaa which is a nationwide secular Political Party few local political groups, namely [Libaladi](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Libaladi&action=edit&redlink=1) in [Beirut 1](/source/Beirut_I) and [Lihaqqi](/source/Lihaqqi) in [Mount Lebanon 4](/source/Mount_Lebanon_IV). Speaking at an inauguration event, [Charbel Nahas](/source/Charbel_Nahas), whose party [Citizens within a State](/source/Citizens_in_a_State) joined the Koullouna Watani lists at a later stage, said the purpose of the lists was to provide an alternative to the "corrupted" power in Lebanese politics.[1] The Shiite [Taharror](/source/Taharror) movement was also established in the wake of the protests.[3][4]

## 2022 elections

During the [2022 Lebanese general elections](/source/2022_Lebanese_general_election), many activists and previous organizations expressed intent to run with goals of replacing the political class and reforming the country.[5] These organizations include, [Citizens in a State](/source/Citizens_in_a_State) which ran under the Qadreen lists, Shamaluna which ran in the [North III district](/source/North_III) and the Mada network which was made out of multiple smaller reform groups.[6] Many older and tradition parties joined October 17 lists such as the historic [National Bloc Party](/source/National_Bloc_(Lebanon)) and the [Lebanese Communist Party](/source/Lebanese_Communist_Party) and other larger parties claimed to be members of the movement like the [Kataeb party](/source/Kataeb_Party), the [Independence Movement](/source/Independence_Movement_(Lebanon)) and the [Popular Nasserist Organization (PNO)](/source/Popular_Nasserist_Organization).

In total, these candidates received 237,667 votes (13.14%) and won 13 seats which formed a new reformist bloc in the Lebanese parliament.[7]

## Deputies

Name Election Area Political Affiliation Seat Cynthia Fadi Zarazir Beirut 1 ReLebanon Christian Minorities Paula Sirakan Yacobian Beirut 1 Tahalof Watani Armenian Orthodox Ibrahim Mneimneh Beirut 2 Beirut Tuqawem Sunni Melhem Khalaf Beirut 2 Independent Greek Orthodox Waddah Sadek Beirut 2 Khatt Ahmar Sunni Rami Fanj North 2 - Tripoli Independent Sunni Michel Chawki El Doueihy North 3 - Zgharta Osos Lebanon Maronite Halima Ibrahim Kaakour Mount Lebanon 4 - Chouf Lana Sunni Mark Bahjat Daou Mount Lebanon 4 - Chouf Taqqadum Druze Najat Saliba Mount Lebanon 4 - Chouf Taqqadum Maronite Elias Fares Jradeh South 3 - Marjeyoun-Hasbaya Independent Greek Orthodox Firas Ismail Hamdan South 3 - Marjeyoun-Hasbaya Independent Druze Yassin Yassin Bekaa 2 - West Bekaa-Rashaya Independent Sunni

### Activities

Along with many others, it was in nature for October 17 MPs to opt out on voting for long-time speaker [Nabih Berri](/source/Nabih_Berri). For the deputy speaker the MPs voted for newly elected MP [Ghassan Skaff](/source/Ghassan_Skaff) however he still lost to long-time politician [Elias Bou Saab](/source/Elias_Bou_Saab).

The 2 secretaries of parliament were elected immediately after the Deputy Speaker. Although not constitutionally required, it was decided that the secretaries would be attributed to one [Maronite Christian](/source/Lebanese_Maronite_Christians) and one [Druze](/source/Lebanese_Druze). The election process of the 2 deputies had large debate particularly by opposition MPs. It was suggested that each MP votes for both preferences in the same ballot and that the positions should not be based on religion. However, it was decided that voting would take place on the basis of one name per ballot.[8] As a result of this Firas Hamdan, an opposition MP, who was one of few candidates for the Druze secretary, withdrew his candidacy in protest of the sectarian electoral procedure.[8]

#### Disputes and withdrawals

The newly formed bloc continuously faced disagreements with each other, like voting on the premiership and the presidency, failure to create common grounds with other parliamentary blocs and failing to unite with the parliament opposition. This led to the withdrawal of 2 MPs from the bloc, Michel Doueihy of Osos Lebanon and [Waddah Sadek](/source/Waddah_Sadek) of [Khatt Ahmar](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Khatt_Ahmar&action=edit&redlink=1), both citing political tensions.[9]

## See also

- [17 October Revolution](/source/17_October_Revolution)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-watan10_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-watan10_1-1) *L'Orient Le Jour*. *[Lancement officiel des neuf listes de "Koullouna Watani"](https://www.lorientlejour.com/elections/article/1109395/lancement-officiel-des-neuf-listes-de-koullouna-watani-.html/2) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180429160055/https://www.lorientlejour.com/elections/article/1109395/lancement-officiel-des-neuf-listes-de-koullouna-watani-.html/2) 29 April 2018 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-128l_2-0)** 128Lebanon. *[Brief on the Lebanese Election: Speculations Rise as Deadline Nears](http://www.128lebanon.com/brief-on-the-lebanese-election-speculations-rise-as-deadline-nears.php) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180429222152/http://www.128lebanon.com/brief-on-the-lebanese-election-speculations-rise-as-deadline-nears.php) 29 April 2018 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["«تحرُّر» حركة «اعتراض شيعية» برؤية دستورية وطنية.. علي خليفة: لعدم القيام بمغامرات غير محسوبة"](https://janoubia.com/2023/10/26/%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8F%D9%91%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B6-%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A4%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D8%B3/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=janoubianews&utm_campaign=tahror-shei&mibextid=Zxz2cZ&fbclid=IwAR36eJlXw4fhYL328pS_H1CCktQw_V4Eos-l7qNmAsVZjvKTiM5GQiwmWZA_aem_AaUFgTx6xWkYA0HoyxKRpIcNNc9N5W6PfiIKB_exV4BlK6JHnWueDHgPvZInFYHXkxk).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [*Taharror, for a Collective Lebanese Identity*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9sud-Lkei8). Retrieved 2024-04-08 – via www.youtube.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Feeling lost in the weeds when looking at the different lists of the protest movement? Here are some tips to make things clearer"](https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1298681/feeling-lost-in-the-weeds-when-looking-at-the-different-lists-of-the-protest-movement-here-are-some-tips-to-make-things-clearer.html). *L'Orient Today*. 2022-05-06. Retrieved 2022-08-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Lebanon's Alternative Political Groups: Mapping the Opposition"](http://politicalgroups.thepolicyinitiative.org/). *TPI Political Groups*. Retrieved 2022-08-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Factbox: What is the make-up of Lebanon's new parliament?"](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/what-is-make-up-lebanons-new-parliament-2022-05-17/). *Reuters*. 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2022-08-26.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:4_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_8-1) ["Follow our live coverage of the new Parliament's first session"](https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1301191/new-parliament-meets-for-the-first-time-follow-our-live-coverage-here.html). *L'Orient Today*. 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2022-06-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["وضاح صادق: أنا نائب تغييري مستقل خارج التكتل"](https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/latest-news/669952/%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%82-%D8%A3%D9%86%D8%A7-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8-%D8%AA%D8%BA%D9%8A%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%83%D8%AA%D9%84/ar). *LBCI Lebanon* (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-10-24.

v t e Political parties in Lebanon Ministers (24) March 8 Alliance (5) Amal Movement (2) Hezbollah (2) Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Tashnag) (1) March 14 Alliance (7) Lebanese Forces (4) Progressive Socialist Party (2) Kataeb Party (1) Others (12) PM's share (9) President's share (3) National Assembly (128) March 8 Alliance (60) Free Patriotic Movement (17) Amal Movement (14) Hezbollah (13) Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Tashnag) (3) Marada Movement (2) Al-Ahbash (2) Ba'ath Party (1) Dignity Movement (1) Popular Nasserist Organization (1) Union Party (1) Independent (5) March 14 Alliance (38) Lebanese Forces (19) Future Movement (8) Kataeb Party (4) Independence Movement (2) National Liberal Party (1) Islamic Group (1) Independent (3) 17 October Revolution (13) Taqaddom (2) Lebanese Communist Party (1) Beirut Tuqawem (1) Tahalof Watani (1) Khatt Ahmar (1) Lana (1) Osos Lebanon (1) ReLebanon (1) Others (10) Progressive Socialist Party (8) Popular Nasserist Organization (1) National Dialogue Party (1) Politics of Lebanon

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Forces of Change](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forces_of_Change) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forces_of_Change?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.