In the summer of 2000, Lebanese citizens elected their parliamentary representatives for an exceptional period that will last until May 31, 2005. The 128 deputies are distributed as follows:

Distribution of deputies according to duration of mandate

• 37 deputies entering the parliament for the first time
• 30 deputies entering the parliament for the second time
• 54 deputies entering the parliament for the third time
• 6 deputies entering the parliament for the fourth time or more
• 1 deputy (Abdellatif Al-Zein, a parliament member since 1964)

Political constitution of parliament

There are 36 party member deputies, equivalent to 28% of the parliament, distributed over the following parties:

• 5 deputies for the Progressive Socialist Party (MP Walid Jumblatt)
• 4 deputies for the Syrian National Socialist Party
• 3 deputies for the “Kataeb” party (Phalange)
• 8 deputies for Hizbullah
• 3 deputies for the Baath Party
• 7 deputies for the Amal Movement (Speaker Nabih Berri)
• 1 deputy for the Popular Nasserite Party (MP Moustapha Saad)
• 1 deputy for the Lebanese Democratic Party (MP Talal Arslan)
• 1 deputy for the Tashnak Party
• 1 deputy for the Socialist Democratic Hanchak Party
• 1 deputy for the Democratic Liberal Ramgavar Party

Adopted legislation

Since mid-October 2000 to the end of 2001, parliament held 8 legislative sessions in which it ratified the following:

• Value Added Tax law (#389 dated 14/12/2001)
• Law of penal judgements (#359 dated 16/8/2001)
• Law encouraging investment in Lebanon (#360 dated 16/8/2001)
• Law addressing the issue of Lebanese women with non-Lebanese children benefiting from Cooperative offerings (#387 dated 14/12/2001)
• Law combating money laundering (#318 dated 20/4/2001)
• Law pertaining to religious real estate rights of non-Lebanese in Lebanon (#296 dated 3/4/2001)
• Law related to the dissolution of councils and their integration into the Council for Development and Reconstruction (#295 dated 5/4/2001)
• Law to implement a reduction of air pollution by the transport sector through the use of less polluting fuels (#341 dated 6/8/2001)
• Law abolishing the death penalty (#338 dated 2/8/2001)
• Law granting female employees benefits equitable to those of male colleagues from the Government Employee Cooperative (#324 dated 21/4/2001)
 

Parliamentary expenses

Parliamentary expenses reached a stable average of LL 42.8 billion distributed as shown in Table 9. This balance is distributed over the following expenses according to the 2002 budget:

• Deputies’ benefits and allowances: LL 12.3 billion
• Employee salaries (fixed and on a contract basis): LL 13.8 billion
• Subscriptions and contributions of the government to the Cooperation Fund of Parliament Employees: LL 1.8 billion
• Seminars and delegations within and outside Lebanon: LL 1.6 billion
• Consumer services & products (cars, electricity, telephones): LL 2.5 billion
 

Parliamentary Expenses