Lebanese media reports expected that the government headed by Hassan Diab would submit its resignation today, after the resignation of three ministers from among its members against the backdrop of the Beirut port explosion, which left dozens dead and thousands injured.
These reports asserted that the step has become almost certain, especially after the government session was moved from Baabda Palace (the presidential headquarters) to the Serail (the seat of government), and the reports continued that "the political forces supporting the government wanted to save Diab's face, and for this they will leave him the option to submit his resignation instead of Drop it. "
Nidaa Al Watan newspaper says, "More than one minister was prepared to resign yesterday, not in response to the demands of the demonstrators, but rather an expression of discontent with the general situation and the slanders that afflicted them."
And she continued, "Whoever did not think of resigning became possible for him as a result of psychological pressure and rumors that have expanded about the intention of more than one minister to resign."
And it rose to three ministers, 11 deputies and an ambassador of the total who resigned after the Beirut port bombing, which resulted in more than 150 deaths, 6 thousand wounded, massive destruction and billions of dollars in losses.
Justice Minister Marie-Claude Negm joined the caravan of ministers who had resigned from the government, and presented her written resignation to Prime Minister Hassan Diab. "I resigned due to the Beirut explosion and the protests," Mary said.
Yesterday, Mary Najm demanded, during a meeting between Diab and the ministers, for the resignation of the government in a unified solidarity manner, and that "if its initiative is not responded to, it will present its unilateral resignation."
It is noteworthy that the Minister of Environment and Administrative Development, Demianus Kattar, one of the resigning ministers, is from the share of Prime Minister Hassan Diab and among his closest associates, and it was reported that the direct reasons for his resignation were the death of his children's friends in the massive bombing.
He said - in a statement of resignation - that "in front of the horror of the tragedy, the bending of the souls of the innocent victims, solidarity with the wounded and the injured and their families, feeling the pain of the families of the missing, and sympathizing with all those affected, and with the horizon of solutions blocked by the impact of futile interactions, and in light of the mechanisms of a sterile and flabby system that lost many Out of the opportunities, and in response to my convictions and conscience, I decided to submit my resignation from the government. "
Before a train, Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad, who was named by MP Talal Arslan and received the approval of former Representative Walid Jumblatt, said about the reasons for her resignation, “I apologize to the Lebanese who were unable to meet their aspirations. Change remained elusive, and since reality did not match the ambition and after horror. The Beirut disaster, I am resigning from the government. "
News and leaks in the Lebanese media are intensifying about the possibility of the resignation of a number of ministers today, led by Interior Minister Muhammad Fahmy, Defense Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Zeina Adra and Economy Minister Raoul Nehme.
The Prime Minister held successive and marathon meetings with ministers that lasted for long hours to discourage them from resigning, and asked them to slow down in making decisions. Industry Minister Imad Hoballah (affiliated with Hezbollah) went out to announce that "there is no resignation and the government is steadfast and will continue to work."
Yesterday was the day of resignation par excellence, as the deputies Dima al-Jamali (Future Movement), Henry Helou (the Progressive Socialist Party headed by Jumblatt), Michel Moawad and Naama Afram (they were in the bloc headed by Gebran Bassil and withdrew from it after the protests of October 17 last) .
These deputies joined Marwan Hamadeh (Progressive Socialist), the Lebanese Kataeb Party bloc, which includes the party's leader, Sami Gemayel, and two other deputies, Nadim Gemayel and Najib Hanash.
Independent MP Paula Yacoubian also announced her resignation and tweeted, "Let us leave the parties of power clinging to the chairs, and let us go together on Monday to resignations from the Council of Impotence and Disillusion. The opposition from within is no longer useful .. Do not let your constituents down."
Lebanon’s ambassador to Jordan, Tracy Chamoun, also submitted her resignation live on the air on one of the Lebanese stations.