Saad Hariri’s resignation is only the start

▶ Challenges remain for the next leaders of Lebanon to resolve the country’s many woes

“We have reached a dead end. No one is bigger than this country.” So said a shell-shocked Saad Hariri, standing before a portrait of his late father Rafic, as he announced the resignation of the entire Lebanese government. The statement followed an extraordinary fortnight in Lebanon, in which more than one million people took to the streets, demanding the fall of the government and an end to sectarian-based politics, corruption, unemployment and poor basic services. That they have achieved their aim in such a short time might have given them immediate cause for celebration but today, the sobering thought of who might replace the outgoing government will undoubtedly strike home. It is critical that those seeking to sow division, such as Hezbollah, are not able to exploit this power vacuum. This is a precarious moment and it is vital whoever is responsible for taking the country forward establishes stability and security quickly.

In truth, Mr Hariri was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Blamed for many of Lebanon’s failures, the clock was ticking on his time in power – but the fall of the government with him was an unexpected result of great discontent. Mr Hariri’s announcement of reforms eight days ago was too little, too late. A proposed Cabinet shuffle also failed to stay the tide of resentment after it was rejected by Hezbollah and its Free Patriotic Movement.

Lebanon must now find a consensus to end the current crisis. If parliament cannot agree on a new prime minister, Mr Hariri might need to remain as head of a caretaker government until he is replaced, which could take years. Nor will the government’s resignation solve the country’s woes. Mr Hariri simply became the face of a flawed system – one whose rise to power was indicative of many of the failures of Lebanon’s political class. A businessman, he only became a political figure in 2005 when he took on the leadership of the Future Movement after the assassination of his prime minister father. This tradition of political dynasties is one of the causes of opprobrium from protesters but Mr Hariri’s case is in no way unique. President Michel Aoun’s son-in-law, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, has aspirations to replace him.

Mr Hariri’s legacy will be one of political impasses that propelled him into the position of mediator. Lebanon does not have a two-party system. It is instead governed by a number of parties, none of which have a majority in parliament. The country’s political system relies on coalitions between factions. Mr Hariri often managed to find compromises to get political leaders to resolve their differences. One of his biggest challenges was Hezbollah’s rising influence in the country. The terrorist group wielded far too much power and, with him gone, there is a chance it could attempt to find a pro-Iranian replacement for Mr Hariri. A government in which Hezbollah plays an even more powerful role must be avoided at all costs. Mr Hariri’s resignation might be a victory for the protest movement but a great mountain of tasks lies ahead of Lebanon’s future leader to put an end to the country’s problems.