Lebanese government quits over ‘endemic corruption’
The prime minister resigns, followed by his cabinet, after three days of violent protests calling for political change
Lebanon’s prime minister announced his government’s resignation yesterday after widespread public anger at the devastating Beirut port explosion. The decision by Hassan Diab follows a weekend of antigovernment protests that saw clashes with security forces firing tear gas at protesters.
In a televised address yesterday evening, Mr Diab blamed “systemic” corruption for the blast that killed at least 163 people and injured about 6,000 others. According to some reports quoting Beirut city governor Marwan Abboud, at least 210 people have died and 110 are still missing.
The explosion is believed to have been caused by a warehouse fire that ignited a massive pile of ammonium nitrate stored in the port since 2013.
Mr Diab, who was a university professor at the American University of Beirut before he took the job, directed his anger at the country’s political parties and politicians who preceded him, accusing them of hiding the dangerous stockpile for seven years.
“I declare today the resignation of this government. May God protect Lebanon,” he said repeating the last phrase three times.
“They [the political class] should have been ashamed of themselves because their corruption is what has led to this disaster that had been hidden for seven years,” he added. In the brief televised speech, he said he is taking “a step back” so he can stand with the people “and fight the battle for change alongside them”. “I have discovered that corruption is bigger than the state and that the state is paralysed by this [ruling] clique and cannot confront if or get rid of it.”
Local media later reported that he arrived at the presidential palace to formally submit his resignation to President Michel Aoun. Under Lebanese law, Mr Aoun will call for mandatory consultations with parliament to name a new prime minister, in the interim the current government will be resigned to caretaker status until a new one is formed.
Lebanon’s beleaguered government had faced mounting pressure from angry citizens to step down after it emerged the explosion was caused by a fire igniting a 2,750-tonne poorly-stored stockpile of explosive ammonium nitrate that the authorities knew about.
The fury has only mounted as the government has been accused of doing little to help the 300,000 people who were made homeless or whose businesses and livelihoods were destroyed. Although there were mounting calls for resignation, Mr Diab seemed unwilling to leave office and only two days ago made a televised speech in which he offered to stay on for two months to allow for various factions to agree on a roadmap for reforms. But the pressure from within his own Cabinet proved to be too much; over the last 24hours three ministers had already resigned.
Beirut’s streets have been rocked by protests over the last two days, as demonstrators and members of the security forces have clashed outside parliament as well as several ministries citizens tried to occupy.
The explosion, centred at Beirut port, is believed to be one of the single largest non-nuclear blasts in modern history. Losses from the blast are estimated to be between $10bn to $15bn.
In Tripoli, Lebanon’s impoverished second city, local media reported that people celebrated Mr Diab’s announcement by firing in the air.
Mr Diab’s government was formed after his predecessor, Saad Hariri, stepped down in October in response to nationwide protests amid a rapidly escalating financial crisis. It took months of bickering among the leadership factions before they settled on Mr Diab. His government, which was supported by Hezbollah and its allies was widely seen as one-sided.
Public works minister Michel Najjar, said: “I hope that the caretaking period will not be long because the country cannot take that. Let’s hope a new government will be formed quickly. An effective government is the least we need to get out of this crisis.”