Democratic Left moves to further organization

February 2005

The Democratic Left Movement has been well on its way to launching the promised group.

The group, which has been the fruit of the coming together of several leftist youth groups and figures, was first announced in mid-August.

A debate ensued thereafter among the new group’s members about the structure of the newborn organization.

The movement, identifying itself with its Arabic acronym HYD, has been the first and foremost supporter of Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt and his Progressive Socialist Party (PSP). The cooperation between the PSP, HYD, Metn MP Nassib Lahoud’s Democratic Renewal Movement, former Bint Jbeil MP leftist Habib Sadek’s Democratic Forum and the Qornet Shehwan Gathering has formed the nucleus of the Bristol opposition movement.

After the formation of the opposition front, several HYD members questioned the wisdom behind joining the front that is composed of politically divergent groups.

The second perspective inside HYD on this question was that political issues should be queued in order of priority. For the time being, these HYD members argued, entering a coalition demanding a Syrian withdrawal, tops all other issues.

The debate was resolved in favor of joining the Bristol alliance especially after the assassination of Rafik Hariri.

Meanwhile the group is way into building as the group’s constitution and bylaws take their final form before the group announces moves from its interim one-year formation period to its status as a permanent group.