Under pressure from the streets, Lebanese President Michel Aoun called Thursday, October 31, for the formation of a "productive" government, composed of ministers chosen for their "skills" and not for their political affiliation.
"Ministers will have to be chosen according to their skills, not their political allegiances (...) especially as Lebanon is at a critical juncture, especially in economic terms, and desperately needs 'a harmonious government capable of being productive,' said the head of state.
Michel Aoun pledged to "continue the fight against corruption" and to work for the formation of a new cabinet capable of responding to the "aspirations of the Lebanese (...) and achieve what the previous government has failed "to do, he said.
The Lebanese president has also expressed his desire to go beyond the confessional distribution of power. Since its independence in 1943, Lebanon has been based on "confessionalism", a complex political system based on the balance between different faiths.
"All, it means all"
These promises did not calm the protesters, who accuse the government of incompetence and corruption. As soon as the speech ended, those massed in the center of the capital chanted "All, that means all", a flagship slogan of the protest affirming their wish to see all the ruling leaders leave, without exception.
"Get out, get out, you've starved everyone" and "The people want the regime to fall," the protesters shouted again, following the live speech, broadcast on a giant screen.
Launched on October 17, the protest movement, which has taken the ruling parties by surprise, has mobilized tens of thousands of Lebanese across several regions of the country in the past two weeks. The protesters demand a complete renewal of the political class remained unchanged since the end of the civil war (1975-1990).
With AFP