Lebanon sinks into crisis
LEBANESE politician Saad al-Hariri abandoned his effort to form a new government yesterday, dimming the chances of a cabinet being agreed any time soon to start rescuing the country from financial meltdown.
Hariri announced his decision after meeting President Michel Aoun, saying it was clear they could not agree, underscoring the political squabbling that has blocked the cabinet formation even as Lebanon sinks deeper into crisis.
In a country where seats in government and parliament are distributed according to religious sects, Hariri’s exit will further complicate the process of cabinet formation, as he is widely seen as the main representative of the country’s Sunni Muslims.
Despite mounting international pressure, led by former colonial power France, a deeply divided ruling class has failed to agree on a new cabinet line-up, with Hariri and Aoun trading blame for the hold up, despite mounting financial woes.
The international community, led by former colonial power France, has pledged millions of dollars in humanitarian aid since the port blast, pending the establishment of a government.
The Lebanese pound is trading on the black market at less than a tenth of its official value, and the country is struggling to import basic items including fuel and medicine.
Hariri, a former prime minister, was designated in October to assemble a government following the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s cabinet in the wake of the Beirut port explosion.
Protesters blocked some roads near predominantly Sunni areas of Beirut after his announcement, setting fire to trash and tyres. Army troops deployed, firing in the air to disperse protesters who pelted the soldiers with missiles, live TV footage showed.
The World Bank has described Lebanon’s depression as one of the sharpest in modern history. The currency has lost more than 90% in two years, poverty has spread and Lebanon has been crippled by fuel shortages. Fears of social unrest are growing. Hariri’s decision marks the culmination of months of conflict over cabinet posts between him and Aoun, the Maronite Christian head of state who is allied to the Iran-backed Shi’ite Muslim group Hezbollah.
“It is clear we will not be able to agree with his Excellency the President,” Hariri said after meeting Aoun for barely 20 minutes. “That is why I excuse myself from government formation and God help the country.”
Hariri said Aoun had requested fundamental changes to a cabinet line-up he had presented to him on Wednesday. The presidency said Hariri had refused to discuss any changes and proposed to Aoun that he take an extra day to accept the proposed line-up. “What is the use of one extra day if the door of discussion is closed?” Aoun told him.
The presidency said Aoun would call for consultations with MPs to designate a new prime minister as soon as possible.
But there is no obvious alternative for the post, which must be filled by a Sunni in Lebanon’s sectarian system.
Analysts doubt that any Sunni politician of standing would accept the role without Hariri’s blessing.
The economic freefall is Lebanon’s worst crisis since the 1975-90 civil war.
Mohanad Hage Ali, fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center, said the security situation was approaching a breaking point. “This is a country with a history of violence, and I see this crisis on auto-pilot without anyone in charge,” he said.
Western governments have been piling pressure on Lebanese politicians to form a government that can set about reforming the corrupt state, threatening sanctions and saying financial support will not flow before reforms begin.
But barring a dramatic shift in the political landscape, politicians and analysts say it’s difficult for a government to be formed before parliamentary elections next year. Diab remains caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed.