What was the National Pact of 1943 and how did it divide political power in Lebanon?

The National Pact of 1943 was an unwritten power-sharing agreement established between Lebanese Christians and Muslims to facilitate governance following the country's independence.12

This arrangement institutionalized a sectarian distribution of the nation's highest political offices to ensure representation across the major religious communities:3

• President: Always a Maronite Christian.1
• Prime Minister: Always a Sunni Muslim.1
• Speaker of the National Assembly: Always a Shiʿi Muslim.1

While the pact successfully maintained a parliamentary democracy for many years, it faced significant challenges over time. Following the Lebanese Civil War, the Ṭāʾif Accord introduced amendments to this structure, transferring various presidential powers to a cabinet that is divided equally between Christian and Muslim representatives.21