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Popular event on November 22 in Beirut. "Revolution, revolution", chanted the participants in these marches, including a large number of families. REUTERS / Andres Martinez Casares

On Friday, 22 November, Lebanon celebrated the 76th anniversary of its independence under special conditions, marked by an unprecedented political, institutional and economic crisis, provoking demonstrations that lasted more than a month. The political class, instead, chose the discretion.

With our correspondent in Beirut, Paul Khalifeh

Lebanon offered this year an unprecedented image on the occasion of the national holiday. Every year, this celebration gives rise to an official ceremony with a strict protocol and an imposing military parade in downtown Beirut. Until then, the Lebanese were content to watch this event on television.

This year, the opposite has occurred. The people have invested the streets and public places in the capital and the big cities of the country. Many activities have been organized, with the highlights being a "civil parade" and an expat march. In the evening, an outdoor concert was offered in the city center. These activities, which sometimes seemed like a big fair, attracted thousands of people.

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The leaders were not welcome to the activities organized by the protest movement. They attended a symbolic military parade behind the walls of the Ministry of Defense in a suburb of Beirut.

Political impasse

While Lebanon is still without prime minister for almost a month, the political stalemate remains total. The President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, does not wish to appoint a new Prime Minister before an agreement on the nature and composition of the future cabinet.

Outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his allies want a government of technocrats. Michel Aoun and his friends insist on a team where the main political forces would be represented alongside specialists.

On 22 November, Hezbollah's number two Naim Qassem, in an interview with Reuters, accused the United States of delaying the formation of a government in Lebanon because they demanded that the Shiite party not be represented. within the executive. If geopolitical stakes add up to the local crisis, the solution may be delayed, as the country is on the brink of financial and economic collapse.

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