The Independence Movement ( ar, حركة الاستقلال; ''Harakat Al-Istiklal'' or ''Al Haraka'') is a sovereigntist, reformist and secular center-right political party based in

Zgharta Zgharta ( ar, زغرتا, syc, ܙܓܪܬܐ), also spelled Zghorta, is a city in North Lebanon, with an estimated population of around 50,000. It is the second biggest city in Northern Lebanon after Tripoli. Zgharta is about 150 metres above sea ...

(

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...

), founded in 2006 by Michel René Moawad, son of the assassinated Lebanese President President René Moawad and first lady

Nayla Moawad Nayla Moawad (, ar, نايلة معوض) (born 3 July 1940) is a Lebanese politician and former First Lady of Lebanon. Outside of Lebanon, she is best known as the widow of former President René Moawad, who was assassinated on 22 November 19 ...

; a formal Member of the Lebanese Parliament.

Origin

The Independence Movement began as a grassroots initiative as part of the

Cedar Revolution The Cedar Revolution ( ar, ثورة الأرز, ''thawrat al-arz'') or Independence Uprising ( ar, انتفاضة الاستقلال, ''intifāḍat al-istiqlāl'') was a chain of demonstrations in Lebanon (especially in the capital Beirut) trig ...

, 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

The movement is part of the anti-Syrian Qornet Shehwan Gathering and the

March 14 Alliance The March 14 Alliance ( ar, تحالف 14 آذار, taḥāluf 14 adhār}), named after the date of the Cedar Revolution, is a coalition of political parties and independents in Lebanon formed in 2005 that are united by their anti-Syrian stance ...

. In the 2005-2009 Parliamentary Elections, it had 3

Maronite The Maronites ( ar, الموارنة; syr, ܡܖ̈ܘܢܝܐ) are a Christian ethnoreligious group native to the Eastern Mediterranean and Levant region of the Middle East, whose members traditionally belong to the Maronite Church, with the larges ...

MPs for the

Zgharta District Zgharta District ( ar, زغرتا) is a district (''qadaa'') of the North Governorate, northern Lebanon. Its capital is the city of Zgharta. Geography The administrative center is the city of Zgharta. The district has 101 populated areas with 30 ...

in the Lebanese Parliament,

, Jawad Simon Boulos and

Samir Frangieh Samir Frangieh (4 December 1945 – 11 April 2017) was a Lebanese politician and a leftist intellectual. He was a member of the Lebanese Parliament. He was from the Frangieh family, one of the well-known political families of Lebanon. Early li ...

. Since 2009, the movement has been led by

Michel Moawad Michel Moawad ( ar, ميشال معوض; born 4 June 1972) is a member of the Lebanese Parliament representing the Zgharta District. Since his election to Parliament, he has been also elected as a member of the parliamentary Finance and Budget C ...

, Jawad Simon Boulos and Youssef Bahaa El Douaihy. They lost the 2009 Parliamentary Elections against Suleiman Frangieh, Jr., Minister

Salim Bey Karam Salim Bey Karam ( ar, سليم بك كرم), born on May 21, 1946, in Zgharta, Lebanon was a Minister of State in the Lebanese government. He is also a Member of Parliament for the Maronite Catholic seat of Zgharta-Zawyie, in North Lebanon. Earl ...

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 René Moawad; representing

in the North III electoral sector. In 2022, the Independence Movement allied with the

Kataeb Party The Kataeb Party ( ar, حزب الكتائب اللبنانية '), also known in English as the Phalanges, is a Christian political party in Lebanon. The party played a major role in the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990). In decline in the lat ...

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.

President of the Movement

Since 2009, the movement has been led by

( ar, ميشال معوض). He is a resigned Member of the Lebanese Parliament (Parliament of Lebanon); resigned in protest following the August 4th Beirut Explosion. In May 2018, he was elected for the first time to the

Lebanese Parliament The Lebanese Parliament ( ar, مجلس النواب, translit=Majlis an-Nuwwab; french: Chambre des députés) is the national parliament of the Republic of Lebanon. There are 128 members elected to a four-year term in multi-member constit ...

representing the

in the North-3 electoral sector. 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 René Moawad, assassinated on the 22 of November 1989.

References

External links

Independence Movement "Harakat Al Istiklal" Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Independence Movement 2006 establishments in Lebanon Catholic political parties Christian political parties in Lebanon Conservative parties in Lebanon Lebanese nationalist parties March 14 Alliance Political parties established in 2006 Political parties in Lebanon Secularism in Lebanon