Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab threatened today (Saturday) that he would stop performing his duties in order to pressure politicians in his country to form a new government. “If segregation helps to form a functioning government, I am willing to do so. Even if this act goes against my faith, disrupts the entire country and harms the Lebanese,” Diab said in a speech.
As you may recall, the Lebanese government resigned shortly after the widespread explosion at the port of Beirut in August last year. The designated prime minister, Saad al-Hariri, was a candidate for prime minister, but was unable to form a government due to political differences between him and President Michel Aoun.
In addition, Lebanon is suffering from a very severe economic crisis that erupted in 2019 that threatens the lives of many residents in the country. A new government to be formed can implement necessary reforms that will lead to billions of dollars in international aid. Meanwhile, last Tuesday the Lebanese pound reached a new low, ten thousand pounds to the dollar, and ignited many riots in the country.
Hassan Diab (Photo: AFP)“Is not the struggle for milk a proper incentive to form a government and end the political conflicts?” Diab said, referring to an incident in Beirut where shoppers fought over milk powder.
Today, many protesters demonstrated in front of the banking association in Beirut demanding access to the depository, and then marched to the parliament building in the city center to express their frustration with what was happening in their country.
“The country faces enormous challenges that a normal government cannot face without political consent, so how can a transitional government deal with these challenges?” Diab concluded.