The street lost its confidence in the ruling class
Bankrupt Lebanon faces the risk of becoming a failed state
The demonstrations that broke out in Tripoli demonstrated the limits of the patience of the citizens who had lost all confidence in the ruling class.
A.F.B.
The caretaker prime minister faces a charge of negligence.
EPA
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At a time when Lebanon is dealing with the Corona pandemic, and after the catastrophic explosion in the Beirut port last summer, and the economic crisis, it seems that the health care system in this country is on the verge of collapse.
And there has become a shortage of beds, medicines, and oxygen cylinders, at a time when cases of Coronavirus infection have reached staggering numbers daily.
Unfortunately, foreign emergency aid will not come without fundamental government reform.
It is impossible to find a local solution to the crisis, given that the political elites are in conflict with each other, and the sectarian divide is growing in intensity.
The United States, Lebanon's largest donor, is the last hope.
Let down
In October 2019, the demonstrations tried to overthrow the government and the institutions that underpin it.
Although the Lebanese leaders failed their citizens at all levels, their corruption and their inefficiency, in particular, wasted the state's resources.
60% of the population suffers from food insecurity by the end of 2020, and 30% of the population is currently unemployed.
A severe banking crisis led to the loss of the Lebanese pound 90% of its value, and banks imposed strict restrictions on withdrawing the dollar, making many Lebanese in bankruptcy.
The economic crisis led to a shortage of staff, medicine and supplies due to the dollar shortage.
Although debt is equivalent to 170% of GDP, there is no economic recovery plan in the near future.
Efforts to bring in vaccines against Corona failed at first for bureaucratic reasons, but finally a draft law was approved in Parliament that paves the way for the purchase of quantities of the vaccine.
However, Lebanese politicians and their sponsors did not agree to the formation of the new government, a process that faltered several months ago as a result of bargaining over the size of the government, the responsibility for appointments, and the controversy over who will get the ministries of interior, energy, and public works, as new dollars will be poured into these ministries as soon as they are completed Completion of reforming the government.
It is expected that the preoccupation of US President Joe Biden's administration will influence the next steps, especially as there are ministerial positions that could be granted to people who could be subjected to US sanctions.
While competition for ministerial positions continues, international aid appears conditional on forming an effective government capable of managing its affairs, in addition to carrying out economic and political reforms that have not yet occurred.
Negotiations have been frozen with the International Monetary Fund regarding a loan worth 10 billion dollars, due to the country's inability to provide the minimum requirements for this loan.
Denied responsibility
No Lebanese official accepted his responsibility for the Beirut port bombing. Rather, Lebanese politicians united to thwart accountability efforts.
What is more surprising is that the Lebanese Minister of Health declared publicly that the victims of the explosion were "estimated" and the efforts of Judge Fadi Sawan, who is working to determine the causes of the explosion, charged four politicians, including the caretaker prime minister, Hassan Diab, with negligence.
But Sawan soon lost his credibility, and was accused of choosing these four on political grounds.
The coalition of angry citizens who gathered in the streets from October 2019 until the start of the health ban in April 2020 considered the August explosion a defining moment that could lead to real change and finally overcome the fortified Lebanese political culture.
These sentiments were reinforced by the government's failure to undertake any rebuilding and repair work that was destroyed by the explosion, which were carried out by civil society groups.
Since that time, no decision has been taken on debt restructuring to curb the economic crisis, and even the central bank's reserves have decreased.
When this reserve runs out, Lebanon will not be able to buy food (Lebanon imports 85% of its food needs), not to mention health care, because the state will be completely bankrupt.
Losing hope
The Lebanese have lost all hope of everything the corrupt politicians say.
As a harbinger of the unrest that brewed among the poor, the demonstrations that broke out in Tripoli demonstrated the limits of patience for citizens who had lost all confidence in the ruling class.
The state of government healthcare highlights the chronic corruption afflicting the Lebanese state, which is unable to govern the country, let alone provide the most basic services to its citizens.
The only solution for the Lebanese state will be complete reform not only of the bloated bureaucracy and health system, but also the rampant cronyism, which represents an epidemic in its political administration, and the corruption that feeds it.
Although Lebanon is unlikely to be a priority for the Biden administration, the United States is the only country with the resources to create a plan to help save Lebanon.
The Lebanese should seek American assistance based on the shared democratic values between the two countries.
The civil society that spawned the revolution against the ruling class is pushing for comprehensive reform of the entire political system.
Without re-inventing Lebanon, with a new vision and strategy that allows the emergence of a political alternative to the existing corrupt class, the entire country will face the risk of turning into a failed state.
Patricia Karam is director of the Middle East and North Africa division at the International Republican Institute
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although it is unlikely to be
Lebanon ,
one of the
priorities of
Biden 's
management, but the United States is the
only country to have the
resources to find a
plan to help save Lebanon.
During October 2019, the demonstrations tried to overthrow the government and the institutions that are based on it. Although the Lebanese leaders failed their citizens at all levels, their corruption and their inefficiency, in particular, wasted the state's resources.
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