democratic lebanon arabic arabic acronym democratic leftist political party seats founded september left wing center left intellectuals activists previously split student activists european style social democracy open forms encourages development true secular state party operates framework emphasizes diversity thought progressive democratic society liberal democratic environment participated cedar revolution wave demonstrations syrian occupation lebanon calls relations syria won parliamentary seat lebanon elections representing tripoli district june amid election rounds founder movement assassinated car bombing month later secretary general ally killed similar car bombing elections party won single seat instead representing district member march alliance parliamentary coalition history background foundation late 1990s growing number intellectuals network independent student groups independent leftist groups advocated democracy individual liberties center left economic policies lebanon hand growing number members dissatisfied status party rise fall soviet_union failure assume democratic socialist platform era political decline party coupled perceived syrian domination leadership led increasing frustration rank file communists upper party september group calling reform democracy forces wrote open letter demanding resignation party leadership led accused leaders syria called party abandonment line expelled party september year activists split leftist student groups intellectuals prior affiliation formed initial temporary preparatory committee movement emerged issued statements critical syrian intervention lebanon called birth new left september officially established october ceremony commemorating foundation attended figures political spectrum declared movement founded principles real social cultural change bases democracy national independence reconciliation arab nation arab nationalism second cultural ideological renaissance sake political religious reforms arab east believe fighting freedom oppression shortly foundation formed multi party opposition oppose constitutional amendment extended presidential term informal coalition sought defend constitution republic appealed free elections based electoral law corruption independent judiciary reforming public administration divided syrian military presence country use arms resolve farms dispute later december february movement opposition parties gather demand total withdrawal syrian troops independence actively participated independence cedar revolution called colour revolution hundreds thousands rallied syrian occupation lebanon supporters government leftist element demonstrations proved important opposition public relations following resignation pro syrian prime minister wave demonstrations leader quoted saying today government fell tomorrow reference syrian chief intelligence based city new_york_times credited founder movement protests march addressed need free sovereign united lebanon called protesters press palace residence president hoping use momentum resign resistance patriarch prevented resulting temporary fallout opposition movement remains critical perceived syrian interference lebanon citing participation march alliance parliamentary defending independence syrian government attacks allies attempts impose views choices lists attaining independence country political goal june founder leader movement prominent journalist outspoken critic syria assassinated car bombing activists marched presidential palace suburb lay representing guilt death head explained place blame head joint syrian security regime president condemned killing told reporters conscience clear death membership thousand month later june secretary general killed similar car bombing outspoken critic syria recent years actively campaigned leader candidacy lebanon elections allies blamed bombing pro syrian forces security apparatus interview lebanon vice president explained trying bring communist party join efforts newspaper called planned inquiries assassination include bombings demanded resignation saying president incapable protecting leadership figures lebanon structure composition operates framework internal movements encouraged represented national body party constituency principal decision making body proportional representation internal movement forms list composed members determined size constituency maintains political priorities alliances rhetoric members daily organizational activities organizational bodies include internal elections occur years october member constituent assembly elected member movement session internal elections elected included general secretary leader president members april internal election occurred lists competed supported representing leadership rhetoric youth movement named left reelected left attained votes lebanon votes abroad online poll enabling entire list elected previously vice president prominent founding member chose participate personal political reasons headquartered capital branches permitted region lebanon abroad provincial district associations largely autonomous youth members comprise substantial portion movement stated half party members younger general_assembly set took place december saw emergence new leadership elected new secretary general formed mainly new generation leaders general_assembly members refused election assembly insisting having general_assembly discusses direction movement members formed current movement called noted allows internal currents factions operate freely political ideology backs european style social democracy promote equality personal liberty economic productivity interview lebanon vice president classified movement center left economically went party adopted model founded enable views internal movements encouraged political manifesto identifies movement requirement thought open denominations emphasis distinguishes leftist groups lebanon domestic policy parties propose state includes appropriation public jobs replacing parliamentary system representative system permitting execution civil marriage soil economist magazine described party secular component march alliance appeals administrative reform public sector modernization plan defends human rights calls respect public freedoms rule law listed platform support abandonment divisive movement supports prohibiting discrimination disabled foreign policy foreign policy platform uniform party calls diverse unified democratic arab society opposes foreign interference politics supports relations syria farms dispute movement advocates resolving identity territory diplomacy farms determined cabinet authorize liberation militarily state institutions allow state fulfill role broader arab israeli conflict appeals creation regional defense strategy protects sovereignty israeli aggression promoting interests region opposes american intervention iraq rejecting authoritarian governments like party advocates democracy syria associates democratic opposition particularly syrian democratic people party electoral results legislative elections june won seat leftist political party holding seat tripoli represented district march alliance pro western political coalition parliamentary majority received votes defeat rival votes elections seek reelection march selected candidate run coalition list tripoli district candidate won parliamentary seat march coalition list votes ballots cast incumbent obtained votes influence stems limited electoral successes anti syrian positions left perspective
Democratic Left Movement (Lebanon)