Independence Day in Lebanon .. Protesters celebrate their way and the army warns against the exploitation of the movement

The official celebration of Lebanon's Independence Day was limited to a symbolic military parade. Protesters rallied in the streets to celebrate "real independence" from power. The Ministry of Defense accused unnamed parties of exploiting the popular movement for political gain.

After the authorities announced the cancellation of the military parade and the 76th anniversary of the country's independence, due to the tension and demonstrations that have been going on for five weeks, the Army Command held a symbolic parade at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense in the Yarze area of ​​Mount Lebanon Governorate, in which the Presidents of the Republic, Parliament, the resigned Prime Minister, ministers and military and security leaders participated.

In the morning, demonstrators woke up to an anonymous burning of a giant fist in downtown Beirut, the "symbol of revolution" since the popular movement began on October 17, but this did not deter them from organizing various rallies and activities in Beirut, Sidon, Tripoli and several cities.

The marches moved on the beat of national songs and songs, and the demonstrators raised the flags of Lebanon, chanting for independence from the parties of the political class, which the protesters blame for the economic deterioration and the political crisis.

Government delays
Weeks after the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri under the pressure of the street, President Michel Aoun did not appoint a date for the start of parliamentary consultations to nominate a new prime minister, in light of the great political division.

The Minister of Defense in the caretaker government, Elias Bou Saab, said that there are those who exploit the popular movement witnessed by the country in order to achieve political gains in the negotiations to form a government, considering that the lack of Hariri's clear position on his desire to form a government or apologize for this is what delays its formation.

Bo Saab said in a statement that the army proved that it maintains stability, and has worked professionally to prevent any collision.

For her part, the Minister of Interior in the caretaker government Raya Hassan expressed concern about the future of the country and the course of things in the absence of a common denominator among all parties.

Al-Hassan stressed in a statement that a dialogue should be held between all parties to reach a solution to the current crisis.

Gibran Bassil, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and foreign minister in the caretaker government, said that his political team lives in real independence every day by building the state, protecting legitimacy and disregarding militias.

Bassil added in a tweet on Twitter that he supports the truthful and deprives exploiters from using the street, and it also prevents the outside from imposing his agenda, as he put it.

The Beirut Bar Association issued a statement calling for the implementation of the provisions of the Constitution and the separation of powers, and the commitment of legal frameworks to achieve any transfer of power without falling into any constitutional vacuum.

The union considered that the independent judiciary is the guarantor of the implementation of laws related to the fight against corruption and illicit enrichment and the recovery of looted funds, considering the adoption of the law on the independence of the judiciary will enable the judiciary to exercise its oversight role.