The Maronite League – ML (Arabic: الرابطة المارونية | Al-Rabitat al-Marouniyya) or Ligue Maronite in French is a private, non-profit and apolitical organization of Lebanese Christian maronite notables, dedicated mainly to defend the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon in the cadre of a democratic and pluralistic society. The President of the Maronite league is the highest Maronite authority in Lebanon after the President of the republic and is empowered to speak for the Maronite community of Lebanon. The Maronite League is also the political wing of Bkerke, the patriarchal authority in Lebanon. The current President of the Maronite league is the former President of the Lebanese Bar Association, Lawyer Antoine Klimos, elected in March 2016 in Beirut.