The National Pact () is an unwritten agreement that laid the foundation of Lebanon as a multiconfessional state following negotiations between the Shia, Sunni, Maronite, and Druze leaderships. Enacted in the summer of 1943, the National Pact was formed by President Bechara El Khoury and Prime Minister Riad Al Solh. Mainly centered around the interests of political elites, the Maronite elite served as a voice for the Christian population of Lebanon, while the Sunni elite represented the voice of the Muslim population. The pact also established Lebanon's independence from France.
Key points of the agreement stipulate that:
- Lebanese Christians do not seek Western intervention, and accept that Lebanon had Arab features.
- Lebanese Muslims abandon their aspirations to unite with Syria and the Arab World.
- The president of the Republic and the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces must be Maronite Catholic.
- The prime minister of the Republic must be a Sunni Muslim.
- The speaker of the Parliament must be a Shia Muslim.
- The deputy speaker of the Parliament and the deputy prime minister must be Greek Orthodox Christian.
- The chief of the General Staff of the Lebanese Armed Forces must be a Druze.
- There must be a ratio of 6:5 in favour of Christians to Muslims (and Druze) in the Lebanese Parliament.