Nabih Berri's empty seat in Parliament during the session of Oct. 28, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'OLJ)
Since 1992, Lebanon has had 10 prime ministers, five presidents — and Nabih Berri. Reelected speaker of Parliament after every election, without ever facing real competition, Berri has long seemed immovable. But with the May 2026 legislative elections approaching, the head of the Amal Movement appears, for the first time, to be on shaky ground.Parties that stand against Hezbollah — and potentially the international community — are seriously considering ending the Hezbollah-Amal duo’s monopoly over the community’s 27 parliamentary seats. If that effort succeeds, it could pave the way for someone other than Berri to run for the speakership. Unless, that is, the speaker chooses to align himself with the state’s efforts to assert a monopoly over arms — a tacit but useful alliance. Beyond the headlines Berri turns debate sectarian to...
Since 1992, Lebanon has had 10 prime ministers, five presidents — and Nabih Berri. Reelected speaker of Parliament after every election, without ever facing real competition, Berri has long seemed immovable. But with the May 2026 legislative elections approaching, the head of the Amal Movement appears, for the first time, to be on shaky ground.Parties that stand against Hezbollah — and potentially the international community — are seriously considering ending the Hezbollah-Amal duo’s monopoly over the community’s 27 parliamentary seats. If that effort succeeds, it could pave the way for someone other than Berri to run for the speakership. Unless, that is, the speaker chooses to align himself with the state’s efforts to assert a monopoly over arms — a tacit but useful alliance. Beyond the headlines Berri turns debate...
