Taif Agreement

The 1989 accord negotiated in Taif, Saudi Arabia, that formally ended the Lebanese Civil War and revised Lebanon’s political power-sharing system.

Lebanese confessionalism: Lebanon’s political system allocates public offices and parliamentary representation among religious communities. Taif retained confessional allocation while changing how power was divided.
Lebanese Civil War: A multi-sided conflict in Lebanon from 1975 to 1990 involving domestic factions and foreign powers. Taif was negotiated to end this protracted conflict.
Lebanese Constitution: The fundamental law establishing Lebanon’s political institutions, rights, and system of government. Constitutional amendments enacted after Taif gave its provisions legal force.
National Pact: Lebanon’s unwritten 1943 agreement assigning major political offices by religious affiliation. Taif revised the power balance established by this earlier confessional settlement.
Lebanese Parliament: Lebanon’s legislature, whose seats Taif equalized between Christian and Muslim representatives. The accord replaced the former Christian-majority allocation with equal representation.
Arab League: A regional organization of Arab states that coordinates political and economic cooperation. The League sponsored the negotiations that produced the agreement.
Lebanese general election, 1992: Lebanon’s first parliamentary election since 1972, held in August and September 1992. The election followed Taif’s revised parliamentary seat allocation.
Lebanese National Movement: A coalition of leftist and Arab nationalist groups that challenged Lebanon’s prewar political order. Its reform demands anticipated Taif’s changes to parliamentary representation.
President of Lebanon: Lebanon’s head of state, elected by Parliament for a six-year term. Taif reduced presidential authority and shifted executive power toward the cabinet.
Saudi Arabia: A state on the Arabian Peninsula and a leading regional power in the Middle East. The negotiations took place in the Saudi city of Taif.

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