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A whole year has passed since the start of the unprecedented popular movement in Lebanon, during which the Lebanese expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation in the country and demanded real changes under it. Although this movement has decreased its dynamism with respect to its beginnings, it has made several advances, however, the political class remains stagnant in reaching an agreement to form a new government. Paris renewed its call to work on “choosing to get up rather than freeze.”
Saturday marks the first anniversary of the launch of an unprecedented popular movement LebanonDuring this period, angry Lebanese took to the streets demanding the departure of the political class, while today the enthusiasm of the first demonstrations was absent, but they were not in vain. In one year, two governments were overthrown, taboos were broken, and union victories and civic initiatives were achieved.
The demonstrations led to the resignation of the government of Saad Hariri, before its pace slowed down with the formation of a new government at the beginning of the year that included specialists appointed by certain political parties, without achieving his aspirations, so he resigned after the terrible port explosion on August 4.
Other factors contributed to the decline and absence of the popular movement altogether, from the spread of the new Corona virus to the repression by security forces of various movements that were disrupted by riots, and then Lebanese involvement in securing a livelihood. and collect their money from the banks in the face of the accelerated economic collapse in the country.
The enthusiasm of the street may have faded, but the word “revolution” or “uprising” did not go unnoticed on the lips of Lebanese and has become a catchphrase for all those seeking change. The activists confirm that they will not back down in their search for a better country, even if crises pile up, the latest of which is the port explosion.
Although the demonstrations have ceased, their effects continue. Many politicians, ministers and MPs are afraid of being in public places, such as markets and restaurants, after protesters intercepted several of them and chanted slogans against them, often leading them to leave.
Victorious!
The popular movement also broke down several barriers by not excluding a region, sect or leader, especially after the chants of Hezbollah and its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah were prolonged, in a scenario that has always been considered a “taboo”.
The winds of change spread to union and student elections. The election of Melhem Khalaf, close to the protesters and active for decades in civil society, as chairman of the Beirut lawyer, was seen as a “victory” for those who demanded change.
Independent activists made progress in student elections at various universities. The movement launched several civic initiatives and gave impetus to other initiatives, including the “Megaphone” media platform, which was launched in 2017.
One of the founders of the platform, Jonathan Dagher, says that he intends to move the demands of the street away from the “dominant discourse” of the local media, in the absence of completely “independent” media, since most of them are loyal to some political party or at least they support some political line.
In a year, the House of Representatives passed two anti-corruption laws, in an attempt by political parties to calm the street on the one hand and satisfy the international community, which is demanding that Lebanon make the necessary reforms to get the financial support it needs. take it out of the cycle of economic collapse.
‘Lack of leadership’
The movement sparked discussion on various issues, from secularism to the right of women to pass on their nationality to their children and support marginalized groups, which Majid sees as “the beginning of a mindset shift.”
According to Karla Edde, professor of history and political science, the demonstrations constituted a “certainly historical change” in Lebanon, but “it is still too early to speak of a founding stage.”
Perhaps the clearest example is that the political class, which for a year the protesters asked to leave and be replaced by a completely independent government of specialists, still controls political life, distributing quotas among them and determining the form of governments and their members.
Eddé explains that revolutionary movements “generally need time” to achieve change, “but time alone is not enough.”
She believes that movements that have managed to “structure” themselves have managed to bring about change, while “leadership” is absent from the Lebanese movement, which is based on different groups whose opinions differ at times.
Continued attempts to create a broad political coalition that includes the largest number of groups have not yielded results, according to activists.
Paris renewed its call to political parties to form a government
Paris, through its Foreign Ministry, once again called on Lebanon’s political parties to reach a consensus to form a government, considering that it was time to “choose to rise up instead of paralysis and chaos.”
The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement that “the formation of an important government capable of implementing the necessary reforms is still postponed, despite the commitments reaffirmed by all Lebanese political forces.”
“It belongs to them, and to them alone, the responsibility for the prolonged obstruction that prevents any response to the expectations expressed by the Lebanese,” he added, emphasizing that Paris “is ready to assist Lebanon in reforms that alone would mobilize the international community”.
“It is up to Lebanese officials to choose to rise up instead of paralysis and chaos. The ultimate interest of Lebanon and the Lebanese people requires it,” he added.
Lebanon must appoint a new prime minister, after a first failed attempt to form an “independent” government demanded by the street and the international community.
After weeks of negotiations, Prime Minister-designate Mustafa Adib, who was elected in late August, abandoned the task of forming a government in the absence of national consensus.
And that government had to carry out the necessary reforms to release international aid in two weeks, the French president announced during his visit to Lebanon in early September.
Exceeding that deadline angered the French president, who called what happened “a collective betrayal” in a speech he delivered the day after Adeeb’s resignation.
France 24 / AFP
