The country is under the control of a caretaker government

Friday, Aug 28 2009

The Lebanese people have a right to ask about the reasons behind the delays in the formation of the government by PM designate Mr. Saad Hariri over the past 2 months. This delay with all its political effects, will certainly also mean that the caretaker government will be the only one responsible to the Lebanese people fin relation to certain investigations and regional appointments.

The country has entered into a phase during which it is under the control of a caretaker government whose position in the Serail will be extended. Not only are there no constitutional or legal reasons for this situation, there is also no moral or national justification for the governmental crisis to continue except if there are those looking for a new collapse in Lebanon which will serve to dash all the hopes of the Lebanese people for political stability and in turn, lead to economic, social and health related crises.

What is happening in relation to the formation of the new government is strange and does not bode well. It is well-known that the PM designate charged with forming the government, Mr. Saad Hariri, was a candidate for Prime Minister in 2005 with the coming of the Seniora government and again for the government of President Suleiman. So, it is clear that this is just a ploy to pass the time, which only serves the interests of the previous government whose existence is extended through this situation of care-taking.

This is only the legal picture of what is going on. And, even if there were no legal implications to the failure of the PM designate, then the political circumstances (most of which are regional or international) are not mature enough for him to take the reins of powers. According to the law, the remit of the caretaker government is very narrow and limited to what is necessary and relevant. According to the constitution, the government does not exercise its powers before achieving the vote of confidence, nor after it is considered to have stepped down or has actually stepped down. And so, the institutions cannot take decisions and actions that are beyond the narrow understanding of 'care-taking'. In substance, there is no meaning to any delay in forming the new government except if the obstacles which prevent the success of the leader of the Future Movement, Mr. Saad Hariri, from forming it are still current. Can we expect any change in this situation in the near future? All the indications are that the situation will remain the same. We can perhaps explain what is happening as the desire of some of the political powers to keep the country under a caretaker government thus extending the stagnation of the past four years. It is noteworthy that the position of PM has been transformed into a foregone conclusion which will ultimately frustrate the influential sect which has been the natural champion of Lebanon's unity and Arabism.

It is no secret that some of the political power are waiting for the smoke to clear in the area. Great difficulties are being faced in the region and all the Arab world. We are expecting results relating to the Iranian nuclear issue, American dialogue with Syria, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the Israel-Palestine issue, particularly in light of the Netanyahu government's refusal of the Obama administration's request for a stop – albeit temporary – to the building of settlements. Added to this is the confusion of the new US administration after its involvement in the resumption of hostilities in Afghanistan and the opening of a new front in Pakistan, where facts on the ground proved that the coalition forces, at the forefront of which are the American forces, are in deep trouble.

All of this implies a delay in the overall regional situation and its crises. This also calls us once again to say that the boring game of waiting does not bode well neither for the PM designate and his initial steps in power, nor for his allies nor indeed for the opposition forces. He was selected on the basis that he is his father's heir and that he would be active specifically in economic issues. And yet, now it seems that the economic issues are not deemed important except for electoral reasons, and no one is being brought to account or asking any questions.

We do not think that there are any Lebanese people who believe the talk of hope and promises regarding the future government's dealing with the economic issues or solutions for a Lebanese economic resurgence with the debt magically disappearing! How will a government which cannot see the light of day until East and West meet and which is united by nothing other than contradictions and sectarian and factional affiliations deal with the issue of the living conditions? How will life return to the social services which have been absent from governmental plans? Who will bring about a change in the mentality which has run the country's economy since 1992? Even if there are attempts to fix the economic ills, in the absence of planning and research, will the issue of the debts find a solution which does not involve the pockets of the people? Of course this is not enough! The problems and conflicts go back to the old plan of cancelling Lebanon's debt in return for Lebanon nationalizing the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. So can the delay in the formation of the government be explained by a desire to wait and see the results of the American efforts in the region by George Mitchell in the issue of settlement? Do those involved in the crisis not understand today that Israel exists on Lebanon's southern border with leaders who threaten Lebanon on a daily basis and who are still lying in wait for its land, water and people. Israel has, since 1948, scouted Lebanon and still does, until it was defeated in 2000 and again in 2006. Israel does not want a stable Lebanon. That being the case, how can we expect it not to take advantage of the political divisions and security tensions to inflame the situation and spread it across the country? The political forces need to take the opportunity to face up to the enemy, something that can only happen through answering President Suleiman's call and forming the new government.

Whatever the intentions of the political powers are behind placing obstacles and difficulties, whether personal, factional, local, regional or international, the result is the same and that is to affect the various state facilities and to cause frustration for all the Lebanese people, with the state institutions being the target. The Hezbollah Secretary General, Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah correctly stated, on the anniversary of the victory, that “the creation of the government will fortify the country against any Israeli offensive”. These words are true in many ways as well as constituting a clear warning that the lack of creating a government will lead to the country remaining paralysed and vulnerable to any Israeli aggression. Who will take responsibility for this?

In conclusion, we hope that the Lebanese people do not remain in the downward spiral of pessimism. However, hopes are one thing and the Lebanese reality is another. We certainly do hope that the country sees a huge change in the political arena, which will help to contain unity and consolidate civil peace while the country gets through this phase with all its turmoil, civil tensions and collapse of the constitutional concepts and state institutions. And for the sake of all of this, the PM designate needs to be up to the challenge and responsibility. The question is whether or not he is.