Democratic Left (Lebanon)

The Democratic Left Movement, also known by its arabic acronym HYD, is a political party in Lebanon founded in September 2004. The movement was formed as a result of a combined effort among (1) leftist intellectuals, (2) activists who had previously split from the Lebanese Communist Party and (3) leftist student groups.

Related Topics:
Political party - Lebanon - Lebanese Communist Party

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HYD advocates a european style social democracy to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor without compromising freedom or economic productivity. It is also one of the few parties in Lebanon that call for a secular state.

Related Topics:
Social democracy - Secular

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HYD has actively participated in the Independence Uprising that had its peak on the 14th of March 2005, when over a million demonstrators gathered to put an end to the Syrian hegemony over Lebanon. The movement also warned against racist and chauvinist slogans.

Related Topics:
Lebanon - Racist - Chauvinist

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On the 2nd of June 2005, Samir Kassir, one of the main founders of the movement and a prominent Lebanese journalist and political analyst , was assassinated. The movement holds the Lebanese-Syrian Security Apparatus responsible.

Related Topics:
Samir Kassir - Assassinated - Lebanese-Syrian Security Apparatus

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At the last legislative elections, May and June 2005, the party won a seat in the parliament, becoming the first Leftist Secular Political Party to be represented in the Lebanese Parliament.

Related Topics:
Legislative - Elections

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More information about the movement can be obtained at its official website: http://www.yasar-democrati.org

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