Some of these competitors challenged the status quo and are running for elections, however, the chance to win for these candidates are minimal for the reality of democracy in Lebanon is a foggy one; where political leaders enjoy the power to choose who runs on their lists, ignoring the simple rule of freedom of choice. Deputies should be elected through competitive elections and not through bargains among feudal and major families so as to guarantee seats for each other in different areas.
Looking at the spectrum of candidates and political conferences that are taking place around Lebanon, and the different political, social, and economic agendas that are presented one would think that the country is in its way to recovery, and democracy is at its best.
But to those who understand the complexity of the political fabric of this county they beg to differ, for the ordinary citizen is caught in the whirlwind of these political agendas. Even with those myriad candidates it is extremely difficult to be able to characterize Lebanon as democratic; for people elect their political leaders irrelevant of their stand on issues, and fail to elect who is capable and competent to serve the community. So the citizens respond to public and political pressure from their religious and political leaders irrelevant of what the adversary agendas can do to alleviate their economical, social and political status.
This narrowness of democracy can be a hinder to progress in nourishing civil society. Democracy needs more than elections; it needs educated citizens that demand accountability from every elected candidate so as to cultivate the true meaning of democracy on the ground. This Lack of civil education on part of the public on how democracy function is abused by the privileged deputies, and only leads to a simple equation; that the leaders narrow the elections on how many votes they can obtain so as to preserve their status and power in the country. Here the heart of democracy is lost, and the free will to choose whoever is fit for the position is stolen from the ordinary citizen.
Nowadays, the public is caught in the tumultuous agendas and arguments that are exhibited in these conferences and in the media. Still the leaders fail to take into account the real meaning of democracy, and that also their specific actions and negative words fuel the fire among their constituencies.
The Lebanese people need to know that the new elected parliament and new government has to accommodate many different ideologies that divided the country for the last four years. It has to deal with Israel, Syria, and most important it has to deal with economic harshness that the recent financial global crisis caused. They should have the vision to create jobs and observe the influx of Lebanese expatriates who are returning to live in the country. Face the problem of poverty, unemployment, Palestinian camps, loose weapons and arms outside the realm of the state, terrorism, borders, and most important how to cement unity among rival powers so as to build a strategic defense mechanism that can face the negative political changes and currents that are hitting the region.
If the Lebanese boycott the elections so as to make a stand, then maybe certain actors, or political parties, who coerce the core of democracy, will understand that the agendas that they present or the promises they make need to be implemented on the ground, and that transparency and accountability are the nucleus of democracy. This move where the people decide and execute will be the first step to have a real democracy.
The above elucidation plainly states that the candidates should reexamine their understanding of democracy and evaluate their positions. The political leaders had missed the point; that there is more to democracy than elections and hot air promises. Also, if they seek real democratization, different brave decisions should be taken so as to strengthen civil society, encourage women to run for office, and to loosen their grip on orchestrating election lists so as to stay in power. This will lead to a secular state where citizens have the right to choose freely who they think fit to do the job, and then maybe then, Lebanon democracy will be at its best?
Tags: Democracy, Elections, Lebanon, Sectarian Divide, Security
