Henchak

Le Henchak (other orthographies: Henchag , Hentchak, Hentchag , Huntchag ), left social democrat Armenian, is one of the political principal parties representing the Armenian community.

With the Lebanon, the Henchak was historically near to the left parties, particularly Socialist party progressist, and showed sympathy with regard to the Palestinian cause. During the confrontations of 1958, the Henchak was combined with the former Prime Minister Saëb Salam, Kamal Joumblatt and the other left parties, against the alliance of right-hand side between President Camille Chamoun, the Kataëb and the Dashnak ( Tachnag ), the other great Armenian party.

During the War of Lebanon, the Henchak called with the " neutrality positive" , supported by the other Armenian parties. With the return of peace, the Henchak , via the president of its political office, the deputy Yeghia Jerjian, approached Rafiq Hariri, like all the other Armenian parties. But this unit fissured as of 1996 and particularly in 1998, with the election of Emile Lahoud to the presidency. The Tachnag was one of the parties supporting most strongly Emile Lahoud, whereas the Henchak remained close to Hariri.

These dissensions burst at the great day at the time of the legislative ones of 2000. The Tachnag was combined with Salim El-Hoss and Tammam Salam and the Henchak was divided into two camps, the ones with Hoss and Salam, the others with Hariri. In the final analysis, the candidates of Hariri gained all the seats and the candidates of the Tachnag to Beirut were beaten, for the first time in addition to fifty years.

The Henchak is regarded as the second Armenian party of Lebanon in terms of popularity, after the Dashnak.