Nabih Berri... The Longest Tenure in Arab Parliamentary Leadership

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (84 years old) is regarded as having the longest tenure in parliamentary leadership in the Arab world, having held his position since 1992 for seven consecutive terms. Despite changes in representation ratios in the new parliament, these have not altered the reality, even in the face of criticisms directed at him. This comes after a series of crises Lebanon has witnessed in recent years, including a rapidly worsening economic collapse, unprecedented protests against the authorities, and a catastrophic explosion in the Port of Beirut. Berri was the only candidate for the presidency of the parliament, which is allocated to the Shiite sect in Lebanon, as both Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, which Berri heads, secured all 27 Shiite parliamentary seats. Over 30 years, and following eight years in which he played a key role in Lebanese politics during the war and the Taif Agreement negotiations, Berri has sometimes succeeded in positioning himself as a mediator among various political forces, yet he remains the first and steadfast ally of Hezbollah.