In May, 49.2 percent of Lebanese voters, in Lebanon and outside the country, went to the polls to elect a new parliament. The months preceding the elections were marked by uncertainty, with domestic and international observers unsure if elections would take place on time or at all. The lack of commitment from the government to implement elections resulted in delayed preparations for elections and inequalities among candidates. Despite these challenges, election authorities successfully implemented elections on May 15, 2022 as scheduled by the December 28, 2021 governmental decree. Various shortcomings of the electoral process underscored the need for Lebanese authorities to strengthen the institutions that undergird electoral integrity.

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) organized an International Election Study Mission to monitor pre-election preparations, Election Day, and the post-election period for the Parliamentary Elections in Lebanon. The main objective of the mission was to thoroughly study the electoral process – including the prevailing political environment, the electoral campaigns, the casting and counting of ballots on Election Day and the post-election period — in order to demonstrate the commitment of the international community in the development of a democratic political process in Lebanon, assess Lebanon’s compliance with international electoral standards and commitments, and make recommendations to strengthen Lebanon’s electoral process.