The controversy swells in Lebanon after vaccination outside the official circuit of members of Parliament.
The World Bank is threatening to suspend its funding of the campaign because of this "violation".
Sixteen deputies and four employees of the Parliament were vaccinated in the premises of the institution, admitted, Tuesday February 23, its secretary general, Adnane Daher.
"What happened today is a violation, we cannot be silent," the chairman of the government committee responsible for vaccination, Abdel Rahmane Bizri, lambasted to the press.
"It's an attempt at favoritism (...) No one has the right to override the plan," he lamented, specifying that he had given up resigning after having discussed with his team and the World Bank.
The news sparked outrage on social media, with the hashtag #NoWasta ("no password" in Arabic) leading Twitter trends in Lebanon.
#NoWasta politicians in Lebanon !!
what a shame !
pic.twitter.com/FWzAHwcjrI
- Philippe Hobeika (@pip_kel) February 24, 2021
The deputies are notably accused of not having registered on the online platform to make an appointment in a specialized center.
"My mother is 84 years old, she is registered and still has not had her turn (...) All the politicians, families and friends, will be vaccinated before her", one Internet user was carried away.
The political class still at the heart of the turmoil
In a country plagued by corruption and patronage, hit by a serious economic crisis, the political class is regularly criticized for its disastrous management of public affairs.
Lebanon began its vaccination campaign on February 14 with aid of 34 million dollars from the World Bank, which had assured that observers would guarantee "equitable access" to the vaccine.
The first phase is reserved for medical staff and people over the age of 75, registered on the dedicated platform.
Some 17,000 people have been vaccinated, while the country (six million inhabitants) has recorded more than 355,000 cases of Covid-19, including 4,340 deaths.
The vaccination of deputies, who are all over 75 years old, "does not comply with the agreed national plan" and could constitute "a violation of the conditions" of the agreement, reacted on Twitter the regional director of the World Bank, Saroj Kumar Jha.
"Upon confirmation of the violation, the World Bank could suspend funding for vaccines," he added.
"I appeal to everyone (...) wait your turn."
With AFP
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