LFI are taking the clearest opportunity in decades to spark Lebanon’s political renewal. Find out about this context below.
The dramatic upheaval of the Middle East over the past five years cannot be understated, with the fallout from the conflict in Gaza leading directly and indirectly to the rewriting of regional powers balances.
Israel’s continued attacks across the region, the present recession of Iran’s military and political leverage and the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria have all led to a moment where Lebanon has an unprecedented opportunity to forge its own path.
Domestically, since the 2019 protests, there has been growing public disillusionment with the entire ruling class, underpinned by frustration about failures to tackle hyperinflation and poverty.
However, 2025 has seen change begin in Lebanon with the formation of a new government under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and traditional political parties gaining ground in municipal elections. Nevertheless, the influence of Hezbollah is still present, particularly in Shiite strongholds in the south. A peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel may well materialise, but the formation of the agreement is unclear.
With countries like Syria in transition and a current flux in alliances across the region, Lebanon has an opportunity to develop its own position as a genuinely stable partner to the West and multi-faith beacon to the region.
Economic opportunities are also beginning to emerge, in the form of domestic industries such as renewable energy and tourism, alongside a potential loan from the IMF. These offer only a glimpse of Lebanon’s strong potential.
Everything is dependent on building the political will to craft a new political settlement. Doing this will require a new way of approaching policymaking and politics in Lebanon.
The upcoming legislative elections in May 2026 offer a unique opportunity to influence policy commitments and objectives from leading political parties and situate LFI as the fulcrum driving change across Lebanon.
