Many fear that the resignation of Saad Hariri will merely exacerbate sectarian tensions
two weeks of nationwide protests, the demonstrators in Lebanon claimed their first scalp. On October 29th the prime minister, Saad Hariri, said he had reached a “dead end” trying to deal with their demands over corruption and the stagnant economy. A package of meagre reforms, announced on October 21st, satisfied no one. So Mr Hariri said he was stepping down, along with his government. “It has become necessary for us to make a great shock to fix the crisis,” he said.
Mr Hariri’s government had struggled to perform the most basic tasks, such as providing 24-hour electricity or drinkable water. Internet connections in Lebanon are among the world’s slowest. Rubbish often piles up in the streets, or is dumped in the Mediterranean. After the government in mid-October proposed to tax calls made via WhatsApp, a messaging service, public anger erupted. As many as 1m people have joined the protests, in a country with fewer than 5m citizens.
Both men are allied to Lebanon’s strongest power-broker, Hassan Nasrallah, who leads Hizbullah, a Shia militia-cum-political-party backed by Iran. Many blame it for aggravating the crisis. The resignation of Mr Hariri leaves it more exposed. But rather than come up with solutions, Mr Nasrallah has denounced the protests as an Israeli and American plot.
Despite such provocations, the protests so far have been remarkably peaceful and non-sectarian. On October 27th hundreds of thousands of people formed a chain stretching from Sidon in the south to Akkar in the north. Demonstrators have staged raves in city squares and made Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” their anthem. But they are also leaderless and lack clear goals. Some want a secular parliament in whichs are individually elected, rather than through sectarian lists, as under the current system.
A day before Mr Hariri resigned, Riad Salameh, the veteran central-bank governor, said Lebanon needed a political solution to avert an economic collapse. Banks have been closed for over a week, leading to fears of a run when they reopen. Meanwhile the protesters are growing tired and more concerned about their safety, says an organiser. Faced with the prospect of Hizbullah taking over the government, some may prefer sticking with the old political class, even Mr Hariri .
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