Political party in Lebanon
The
Independence Movement
(
Arabic
:
???? ?????????
;
Harakat Al-Istiklal
or
Al Haraka
) is a sovereigntist, reformist and secular center-right political party based in
Zgharta
(
Lebanon
), founded in 2006 by Michel Rene Moawad, son of the assassinated Lebanese President
President Rene Moawad
and first lady
Nayla Moawad
; a formal Member of the Lebanese Parliament.
[1]
Origin
[
edit
]
The Independence Movement began as a grassroots initiative as part of the
Cedar Revolution
,
[2]
before it evolved into a structured political organization that aims to defend Lebanese sovereignty, independence, democracy, state institutions, and liberties. The movement equally advocates human and economic sustainable development, reforms and modernization of state institutions, reinforcement of governmental transparency and accountability, as well as civic engagement and participation in public life.
Chronology of Main Events
[
edit
]
The movement is part of the anti-Syrian
Qornet Shehwan Gathering
and the
March 14 Alliance
.
[3]
In the 2005-2009 Parliamentary Elections, it had 3
Maronite
MPs for the
Zgharta District
in the Lebanese Parliament,
Nayla Moawad
, Jawad Simon Boulos and
Samir Frangieh
. Since 2009, the movement has been led by
Michel Moawad
, Jawad Simon Boulos and Youssef Bahaa El Douaihy. They lost the 2009 Parliamentary Elections against
Suleiman Frangieh, Jr.
, Minister
Salim Bey Karam
and Estephan El Douaihy. However, following the 2018 Lebanese Parliamentary Elections, the Independence Movement gained a seat in Parliament with the arrival of its leader
Michel Rene Moawad
; representing
Zgharta District
in the
North III
electoral sector.
[4]
In 2022, the Independence Movement allied with the
Kataeb Party
and other
Anti-Hezbollah
independents to form a list called 'Shamal Al Mouwajaha' to bring down
Gebran Bassil's
presence in the
North III
electoral districts.
[5]
President of the Movement
[
edit
]
Since 2009, the movement has been led by
Michel Moawad
(
Arabic
:
????? ????
). He is a resigned Member of the Lebanese Parliament (Parliament of Lebanon); resigned in protest following the
August 4th Beirut Explosion
.
[1]
In May 2018, he was elected for the first time to the
Lebanese Parliament
representing the
Zgharta District
in the North-3 electoral sector.
[5]
Moawad was an active member of the parliamentary budget committee and played a pivotal role in fighting corruption and exposed the illegal partisan employment in the public sector. He is the son of the former Lebanese President
President Rene Moawad
, assassinated on the 22 of November 1989.
[1]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]