Hundreds of protesters in Beirut one year after the start of their movement against authority

Hundreds of Lebanese participated, today (Saturday), in a march that went through the streets of Beirut to the port, marking the first anniversary of the beginning of the popular demonstrations against the authority and demanding their departure, at a time when the country faces its worst economic and political crises.
According to the French Press Agency, the protesters flocked to the center of Beirut and some carried Lebanese flags and banners with various slogans, among them “October 17 is not a memory, it is the story of a confrontation between a corrupt authority and a town”. He also held up a large banner with images of MPs calling for his immediate resignation.
The protesters who flocked from various areas to the Martyrs’ Square, which a year ago constituted the most prominent arenas of demonstrations, left for the Bank of Lebanon, then the Ministry of the Interior, to the port of Beirut. Neighborhoods and economic activity in the capital.
And at the time of the port explosion, a flame was lit in a metal model specially designed for the occasion, which carried the words “Revolution October 17” to the chants of “Revolution … Revolution.”
Sami Saab, one of the organizers, said in a speech to protesters: “On October 17, 2020, the spark turned into a flame that will not go out, continuing until the last breath.”
Apart from his participation in the demonstration, Abd Sabbagh (70 years old) said: “We have been on the streets for a year, making demands on life and finances, and nothing has changed so far.” He added: “Our demand is to change the corrupt political class, which is still fighting for actions, positions and chairs, and its corruption is still present in the country.”
On October 17, 2019, the government’s attempt to impose a financial fee on the free telecommunications service through the WhatsApp application triggered the first moves.
Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese took to the streets of Beirut, the south, the north and the Bekaa, in unprecedented demonstrations that crossed sectarian and partisan affiliations.
The protesters raised their voices loudly before the combined political class and demanded her departure, accusing her of corruption and indifference, and holding her responsible for the deterioration of the economic situation and the tight living conditions.
Since that date, Lebanon has witnessed successive crises, from an accelerating economic collapse that exacerbated poverty rates, to strict banking restrictions on depositors’ funds, the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic and, finally, the terrible explosion. from the port of Beirut.
Under pressure from the street, then-Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned and a new government headed by Hassan Diab was formed in January, with the support of Hezbollah and its allies, who appointed specialist ministers outside the political class.
The momentum of popular movements waned with the formation of the government, then the outbreak of the new Corona virus and general lockdown measures, not to mention the repression of protesters by security forces.
The explosion in the port of Beirut, which authorities attributed to the storage of large quantities of ammonium nitrate, fueled anger in the street, which accused the political class of negligence. Massive demonstrations were held, during which riots and protesters were deliberately targeted, as documented by various human rights organizations, and Diab submitted his resignation on August 10.
Last month, political forces failed to translate a promise they made to French President Emmanuel Macron to form a government led by Mustafa Adib within a two-week period, according to a French roadmap that called for the formation of a government with a ” specific mission “to undertake urgent reforms to gain the support of the international community.
Following Adib’s apology, on September 27 Macron gave the political forces a new period of “four to six weeks” to form a government, accusing the political class that they had not facilitated the authorship of “collective treason.”
The President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, postponed binding parliamentary consultations to appoint a prime minister until next week, at a time when Hariri, who led intense contacts to appoint him this week, appears to have a majority that allows him to assume the task of forming a government, in a maneuver that angered protesters opposed to the authority and some political forces.
Faced with successive crises and political stalemate, Jan Kubi اعتبر, the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, said in a statement yesterday (Friday) that “the grievances and legitimate needs of the Lebanese have been neglected during a terrible year “. He said: “The reforms that Lebanon needs are known.” Ruling political elites have repeatedly pledged to implement them, without delivering on their promises, reinforcing the status quo and paralysis.