‘PASSPORTS FOR PERKS’ SCANDAL IN LEBANON
▶ Factions want to block president’s move granting 375 people citizenship
Two major Lebanese political factions say they will lead legal challenges against a presidential decree to grant citizenship to more than 300 people, claiming financial favours are being exchanged for passports.
The decree was signed by the Lebanese President, Michel Aoun, last month, but only became public in the past week. It was also signed by the Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, and the Interior Minister, Nohad Machnouk.
Mr Aoun on Saturday challenged critics to present evidence that anyone had been unfairly granted Lebanese citizenship and urged “anyone in possession of definite information regarding any person covered by the aforementioned decree who is unworthy of the Lebanese nationality to forward said information to the General Security Directorate for verification”, said the statement from his office.
Mr Aoun defended the decree as having “been issued through legal channels”.
“The law says the people must have done an extra special favour to the country, which none of them did,” said Elie Al Hindy, who is foreign affairs spokesman for the Lebanese Forces, one of the two parties that wants to block the naturalisations. “Some people included have good connections with Lebanon and Lebanese spouses.”
The 375 names on the list have not been made public but some have been leaked. Among the names believed to be included were at least five prominent Syrian businessmen and politicians.
While it is not uncommon for Lebanese presidents to grant citizenship to non-Lebanese and people with Lebanese ancestry who do not possess it, such decrees are generally made at the end of a president’s term.
Mr Aoun is in the second year of his six-year term.
In Lebanon, even such a small number of naturalisations can stir debates over demographics. The country has gone for more than 80 years without an official census, in part because its Christian community fears its numbers are in reality far fewer than the numbers upon which seats in government are apportioned.
“The number [on the list] is small but fear is high,” said Imad Salamey, a professor of political science and international affairs at Lebanese American University. “A precedent in granting citizenship ignited demographic fears among different confessions.”
The Free Patriotic Movement, which Mr Aoun founded, has been vocal in its drive to restore the rights of Christians in Lebanon. While most presidents passing such decrees attempt to maintain a semblance of sectarian balance in their picks between Christian and Muslim, Mr Aoun’s proposals are reportedly overwhelmingly Christian.
But it was those Christian fears of demographic change that led parliament to strike down a proposal in Lebanon’s budget that would have loosened rules on foreigners owning property and allowed property owners the right to remain in the country.
One of the chief objections to the law, known as Article 49, was that it might create an avenue to naturalisation for refugees from other countries. However, Mr Hariri denied that was the case and insisted it was an effort to boost foreign investment in the country.
“Concern stems from the fact that the country is hosting a large number of refugees, Syrians and Palestinians,” Mr Salamey said.
There are just under a million Syrian refugees registered with the UN agency, although the government estimates at least 1.5 million are in the country. There are also officially about 450,000 Palestinians in Lebanon, forced out by the creation of Israel, although a census last year found only 174,422.
Article 49 was annulled last month after it was challenged by the Kateab party. Its leader, Samy Gemayel, also wants to see the full list of 375 people naturalised. Baabda Palace, the president’s residence, reportedly declined, directing him to the interior ministry.
There have also been debates in the past year over the laws allowing Lebanese women to pass citizenship to children fathered by non-Lebanese men, which they are not allowed to do.
Mr Gemayel has also requested more clarity on the process that led to Mr Aoun’s naturalisation proposals. Whether the president’s office might revoke some of the recently granted citizenships was an open question yesterday.
“Samer Fawwaz is being mentioned,” Mr Salamey said, referring to a prominent businessman from the city of Latakia who is considered to be close to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. Analysts have suggested Mr Fawwaz’s network of companies could help the Syrian government to evade international sanctions.
Hani Mourtada, a former minister in the Syrian government, is also among the names mentioned. Another is a prominent Syrian pro-government journalist.
“If true, this is a clear political deal that favours President Bashar Al Assad and helps him manoeuvre round economic sanctions,” Mr Salamey said. It could also “indicate the return of Syrian influence in the new parliament”.
The Progressive Socialist Party, led by Walid Joumblatt, on Saturday called for “the competent official authorities to clarify all the circumstances of the issuance of this decree … and asks: What about the thousands of deserving Lebanese poor who have been ignored for the benefit of some of the privileged?”
If true, this is a clear political deal that favours Al Assad and helps him manoeuvre round economic sanctions
IMAD SALAMEY
Lebanese American University