National Pact (Lebanon)

The National Pact (Arabic: الميثاق الوطني‎‎) is an unwritten agreement that laid the foundation of Lebanon as a multiconfessionalism state, having shaped the country to this day. Following negotiations between the Shia, Sunni, and Maronite leaderships, the National Pact was born in the summer of 1943, allowing Lebanon to be independent.

Key points of the agreement include:

A Christian majority of 51% in the 1932 census – widely considered manipulated in their favor – was the underpinning of a government structure that gave the Christians control of the presidency, command of the armed forces, and a parliamentary majority. However, following a wider trend, the generally poorer Muslim population has increased faster than the richer Christians. Additionally, the Christians were emigrating in large numbers, further eroding their only marginal population edge, and it soon became clear that Christians wielded a disproportionate amount of power. As years passed without a new census, dissatisfaction with the government structure and sectarian rifts increased, eventually sparking the Lebanese Civil War. The Taif Agreement of 1989 changed the ratio of Parliament to 1:1 and reduced the power of the Maronite president.

However, the first ministerial meeting, that took place in October 1943, in which it is believed the national pact was first enunciated, completely contradicts this version of the National Pact. In fact, the meeting emphasized the importance of a secular state, in which all sectarian features should be removed. This, of course, is the complete opposite of what most have considered the true version of the National Pact. Nevertheless, the meeting is more reliable, as written proof of what has been agreed upon by all members of parliament is available.

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