Time is running out for Saad Hariri

A festival atmosphere dominates demonstrations in Lebanon. There’s music playing everywhere, DJs play sets, volunteers distribute water and cake. It appears as though for the first time in a long while, what was a divided Lebanon is now united – united in its goal to topple the existing government.

There are no party flags, no banners in support of political or religious leaders: instead, all that’s visible at the rallies in the centre of the capital Beirut is a sea of national flags. People stand side-by-side singing the Lebanese national anthem.

Protesting against tax increases, national debt and corruption

"We’re here because we don’t want this government anymore. They’ve lined their pockets with our money, they’ve stolen from us," says Ran, a Masters student. "They don’t care about us. They don’t manage to do anything. That’ll also have an impact on my future. How am I supposed to find a job here, or start a family?" says the young woman.

Her view is shared by Sari, who is also still a student. He has wrapped himself in a flag and has been here on Martyrs’ Square in downtown Beirut every day since the protests began. "We need a perspective, not just for us, but also for future generations," he says. "I believe that a new government can give us hope. We don’t want the same thing to happen over and over again. All generations in this country have had the same bad experience. We need a completely new political approach, otherwise nothing will change," says the 22-year-old.

This protest was triggered by planned tax increases. These were to take the form, among other things, of a tax on WhatsApp messages. Although the government was quick to withdraw that particular decision, the rallies have continued. The demonstrators are venting their anger at the misuse of public funds and widespread corruption in Lebanon.

Haririʹs ultimatum

Student Sari says he is waiting expectantly for Prime Minister Hariri’s three-day deadline to run out. That’s due to expire this Monday.

Lebanon is groaning under the weight of debt and a fiscal crisis. In a speech on Friday, Hariri addressed the nation and pledged that the situation would improve. He also gave his political adversaries 72 hours to agree on solutions to the economic crisis and even indicated that a resignation may be on the cards. There may be support for the unity government of representatives of the entire political spectrum. But thus far, Prime Minister Hariri has not succeeded in gaining control of what official sources say is a debt burden of 86 billion dollars.

His partner in government Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah also spoke to the nation in a televised address. He admitted that the government, including Hezbollah, was responsible for the economic crisis. Nasrallah dismissed the idea of new taxes and praised the protests’ autonomy. But the Hezbollah leader said he was against the government’s resignation.

Jubilation following stand-down

Nevertheless, the coalition is showing cracks. Samir Geagea, head of the Christian "Lebanese Forces" party, pulled his four ministers out of government on Saturday. The reason given was that the coalition is not in a position to solve the problems facing the nation.

There was much jubilation that evening following the stand-down of "Lebanese Forces" ministers. "Four out of 30, leaving just 26 ministers for us to get rid of," read one Twitter post immediately after Geagea’s announcement.

"We want to live in freedom, dignity and security. That is our right, this country belongs to all of us," says a 58-year-old demonstrator who wants to remain anonymous. She knows that even a new government won’t get everything right. "But they should know that we won’t just put up with it anymore. No government can ever get away with that again, not with us," she says.

The clock is ticking for Saad Hariri.

Diana Hodali

© Deutsche Welle/Qantara.de 2019

Translated from the German by Nina Coon