The only result of the upcoming elections will be to extend the crisis.

Friday, Apr 10 2009

It is undoubted that what is happening currently and will happen from now until the parliamentary elections due to take place on June 7th, will have no results other than to extend the crisis which is being inherited by each successive generation of Lebanese.

The Lebanese people have discovered the talents of some of the political driving forces at the political helm. The changes required to bring the country out of the political, economic and social quagmire will not materialize in the ballot boxes; rather we are seeing the work of this group of politicians in exchanging gains, assuring interests and bartering, the negative effects and consequences of which are sorely being felt.

At the National Dialogue Party we have consistently called for a redrafting of the electoral law, taking into consideration the variety of people in the country while still maintaining national unity. We are now witnessing this sorry electoral scene, rife with lying, political deal-making and electoral apportioning. This is being seen particularly with the Sunnis and specifically in Beirut, where a bloody game is being played rather than ensuring the natural and peaceful representation for this sect. We feel that what is happening is totally unrelated to free and transparent parliamentary elections and the concept of real democracy.

What is currently taking place in relation to the deals within the large sectarian and confessional camps undermines the legality of the elections and its divisions, and as such their democracy as well as the spirit and letter of the Taef agreement. Where is the voice of the non-sectarian and non-confessional citizen in all these agreements? People are working against each other and engaging in deal-making, being at the same time each others' friends and enemies: friends in the division of opportunities, areas and ministerial and parliamentary seats and enemies in their doctrinal and confessional leanings. So, will the Lebanese people really witness elections to be proud of?

Furthermore, what has changed in the position of Minister Walid Jumblat and what does his standing apart from his followers in the Lebanese Forces and the Future Movement mean, particularly in view of his public criticism of the use of the slogan 'Lebanon First' by some of the 14 March movement? Did Jumblat ascertain for sure that there is no hope of achieving dramatic changes in the regional situation, and so took refuge in building bridges with the people of the 8 March movement through Mr. Berri? There is no doubt that the electoral calculations imposed some of the changes, as the international situation also called for a serious reconsideration of the reality on the ground.

President Suleiman has repeated numerous times that “the state has a duty and responsibility to ensure an electoral law which depends on proportional representation”. This will solve many problems relating to social and popular representation, as it is the start of real change and the distancing from confessionalism, sectarianism and blind partisanship. Building on a democratic law will represent all of the civil, social and economic powers who are concerned with national matters and who work for the general good of the Lebanese citizens. Because of this, we feel that the passing an electoral law which depends on proportional representation will restore to Lebanon its balance. This has become an extremely important issue as saving the country calls for changing this failed political layer which has only led to the ruin of the country. We must thus not let go of the desire for a new electoral law which is fair and dependent on proportional representation and with electoral districts which lead to the greatest possible peaceful representation for all groups.

The experience of the past 4 years has shown the Lebanese people the ease with which the country can be directed towards civil war. These were also 4 years of political failure and of economic, social, developmental, healthcare and cultural devastation. Is it not normal that the concerns about living issues outweigh any other issue amongst the Lebanese people? Is it not frightening that the level of development for 2009 was below zero, as it has been for the past 4 years? And what of the fate of the 2009 budget – will it follow in the footsteps of the budgets of the past 4 years and simply be shelved? Are there not dangerous consequences, in the absence of a budget, for the various sectors and areas, particularly in the absence of the social and economic council, and with interests being bartered between the opposing sides in government? We also need to take into account the consequences of the delayed issues which now pose a danger to all aspects of life in the country, as the real needs of the Lebanese people and the revitalization of the institutions are ignored. And, the terrible thing in all this is that the new government will be similar to that of Seniora!

This then raises the question: have the Lebanese people not had enough of the postponement of their rights in relation to development and reconciliation and the plans for economic and social development of various areas? What is the fate of the promised change and conciliation, if the various issues relating to the living conditions of the citizens are being ignored unless they further the interests of those in power? Who will place a limit on the mounting debts of Lebanon? Who will guarantee the security of Lebanon if the various groups involved in government are quarrelling over all the issues, particularly over the rights of the citizens, in the looming shadow of a global financial crisis which has its own dangerous consequences for the social situation in Lebanon?

It is easy for some of the country's leaders to announce their candidacy, all the while the delays and mind-changing in the political arena are eating away at the rights of the Lebanese citizens, their finances, and the rights of their children. There is an expectation of an 'intifada' which will return to the citizenship its rights on the basis of confession and sect; this will only happen by the civil community, the institutions and the independent personalities insisting on changes to build a non-sectarian state which focuses on the Taef agreement and the cancellation of political confessionalism.

The electoral situation will not have any benefit for Lebanon. The Lebanese people are living through great difficulty, whether economic, social or relating to their standard of life, without any hope for a solution or for a government different to the present one or even the previous one. This will only lead to devastation and increased immigration and thence onto a failed country on all levels. This is if we do not get stuck in the quagmire of civil war once again...

The priority must be to save the country – Lebanon must be protected in the midst of the difficult regional situation, particularly in light of the right wing Israeli government which refuses to acknowledge the Palestinians and give them a state. Lebanon's unity is threatened and the country will be an arena for violent expressions of sectarian and confessional division. Thus, the national responsibility lies heavily on everyone, otherwise we will all fall victim, whether we believe in confessionalism or not, to federalism and the destruction of Lebanon's formula of communal living.