Lebanon Needs a Cabinet of Technocrats Now.

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By: Ghassan Karam

When the coalition forces of March 8 agreed to bring down the Lebanese Cabinet of  Sa’ad Hariri by asking their 11 representatives to resign they started a process that no one at the time would have ever thought to be possible. What has unfolded since then, almost 4 months and counting, would have been comical had it not been so tragic.

The complaints by some that the previous cabinet was brought down by what borders on  an illegitimate coup should be dismissed as rationales of frustration by those who lost power. The tactics employed by March 8 were perfectly legal, democratic and proper. My complaint is not about how the cabinet was forced out of office but about the total lack of a plan about what to do next.

Every move taken by the “new majority” since then has been nothing short of amateurish improvisation. The major reason that many were at a loss to explain the reason for the move by the coalition of March 8 to force the Cabinet out of office was the clear lack of an alternative PM. That is why initially it appeared that Sa’ad Hariri will be designated one more time to form a slightly different cabinet. Obviously that line of thinking proved to be wrong as the FPM and others declared that they will not nominate Hariri again. So who would they nominate? It turned out that they had no nominee outside of Mr. Karami whose consideration as a viable PM designate was short lived.

The coalition of the hapless was rescued from its own bungling by no less of a respected politician than Najib Mikati, an ex Premiere himself. Mr. Mikati offered himself as an alternative and muddied the waters. He had been elected to Parliament on a ticket backed up by March 14 and could not commit to the Hezbollah demands of distancing Lebanon from the STL investigating the assassination of Rafic Hariri  , the most dominant Sunni political leader in Lebanon. But due to the lack of another viable alternative March 8 forces backed up the nomination of Mr. Mikati and had to apply all their political muscle to get him officially nominated.

If you think that once he was nominated and once March 14 made it clear that they will not join the cabinet then the formation of a cabinet will be accomplished in a matter of days then you would have been wrong. A delay in forming a cabinet made up of many different divergent groups is reasonable but not to be able to agree on a cabinet composition for a cabinet made up of one coalition; that has precipitated the whole governmental crisis; is ludicrous.

Mr. Mikati who is not in a position to alienate his Sunni constituency; that will be sure political suicide; and who never made any public pledges to enact the Hezbollah agenda has had a clear choice right from day one. He has to act as a Premiere for all the Lebanese and must form a cabinet that is effective, capable and that is guided by the welfare of the country. Under the current circumstances this can only mean a cabinet of technocrats who +understand the demands of their respective ministries. This is the time for effective professionals and not the time to train all of these political candidates whose only qualification at times is kinship to a political leader.

Lebanon cannot afford any more amateurish and ideologically driven behavior similar to the calls to eliminate gasoline taxes and to withhold from the government its own funds. That behavior is reminiscent of the childish acts of cutting ones nose to spite ones face.

Mr. Mikati has formed a cabinet of technocrats before and that cabinet of 14 members performed extremely well. He owes it to the Lebanese, to the constitution and to his own conscience to form another cabinet of capable responsible and well experienced ministers. That is what Mr. Mikati should have done four months ago; it’s never too late to do the right thing. Better late than never.

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30 responses to “Lebanon Needs a Cabinet of Technocrats Now.”

  1. antar2011 Avatar
    antar2011

    highly doubt Hizbollah had no plan what to do next…after the coup…but i really think the arab spring was bad timing for m8.

  2.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    highly doubt Hizbollah had no plan what to do next…after the coup…but i really think the arab spring was bad timing for m8.

    1.  antar2011
                    It would not be accurate if one was to deny a role for the Arab Spring in upsetting the apple cart for HA and its allies but it looks that the coalition of convenience is not very well integrated. Had they been integrated then a cabinet would have been formed in a matter of hours.

      1.  Avatar
        Anonymous

        inshaAllah the cart will be upset always until hizb goes back to its roots. 

        1.  Avatar
          Anonymous

           Forget the Allah bit … He has nothing to do with creating good government, obviously. If Belgium can run well for almost a year with no government, so could Lebanon if the ‘little people’ would actually do the work they are supposed to do. No-body needs to be told who are the ones who actually make a country function. Send out the water, electrical, internet, road repair and telephone crews, and all the usually mindless beauraucrats in various offices can continue collecting the taxes, hiring the workers, and paying the bills; allow the army to protect ALL the people; and leave the idiot politicians to go their merry ways, along with the stupid religious leaders who want you to think somehow God is going to straighten out the mess.

  3. ghzayel Avatar
    ghzayel

    …Every move taken by the “new majority” since then has been nothing short of amateurish improvisation…
     
    ya ghassan,
     
    ya jamea!!! if we consider that hezballah unfortunately is playing now a significant negative role in lebanon then we start to realize that everything that is happening on the political scene is planned to their advantage.
      
    yes, the amateurish improvisation you mention and the one we see on the surface is planned on purpose for the local media and to keep the average citizen at a loss and undecided on who to blame for the current political mess while hezballah is secretly working under the table to achieve the two following goals:
     
    1- protecting their mafia style state within a state (pirates’ cove) status in lebanon and keeping the current government institutions’ vacuum going on in lebanon for as long as possible and make sure that any future government before its formation would give them iron clad guaranties it will not interfere in any form or shape in their illegal political, military, financial deals in the country and abroad.
     
    2- protecting the weapons they currently have since their purpose changed after the year 2000 from defending the south against israeli aggressions to defending their state and keep it away from any future lebanese government authority.
     
    after all these years and after all the political and financial gains they acquired and regardless of the lebanese people’s interests, hezballah and hezballah alone came to realize that a no government at all situation or a government where they can pick and choose at will is certainly the ideal solution.

    1. Ghassan Karam Avatar
      Ghassan Karam

       ghzayel,
                  You will have no disagreement from me on the two points that you highlight.

    2. antar2011 Avatar
      antar2011

      exactly what i had in mind in my reply to this article…although it seems that hizb has no plans…but in fact it does…and what we are seeing now are exactly his plans.

  4. ghzayel Avatar
    ghzayel

    …Every move taken by the “new majority” since then has been nothing short of amateurish improvisation…
     
    ya ghassan,
     
    ya jamea!!! if we consider that hezballah unfortunately is playing now a significant negative role in lebanon then we start to realize that everything that is happening on the political scene is planned to their advantage.
      
    yes, the amateurish improvisation you mention and the one we see on the surface is planned on purpose for the local media and to keep the average citizen at a loss and undecided on who to blame for the current political mess while hezballah is secretly working under the table to achieve the two following goals:
     
    1- protecting their mafia style state within a state (pirates’ cove) status in lebanon and keeping the current government institutions’ vacuum going on in lebanon for as long as possible and make sure that any future government before its formation would give them iron clad guaranties it will not interfere in any form or shape in their illegal political, military, financial deals in the country and abroad.
     
    2- protecting the weapons they currently have since their purpose changed after the year 2000 from defending the south against israeli aggressions to defending their state and keep it away from any future lebanese government authority.
     
    after all these years and after all the political and financial gains they acquired and regardless of the lebanese people’s interests, hezballah and hezballah alone came to realize that a no government at all situation or a government where they can pick and choose at will is certainly the ideal solution.

    1. Ghassan Karam Avatar
      Ghassan Karam

       ghzayel,
                  You will have no disagreement from me on the two points that you highlight.

  5.  Avatar
    Anonymous

     
      
      
    …Every move taken by the “new majority” since then has been nothing short of amateurish improvisation…
     
    ya ghassan,
     
    ya jamea!!! if we consider that hezballah unfortunately is playing now a significant negative role in lebanon then we start to realize that everything that is happening on the political scene is planned to their advantage.
      
    yes, the amateurish improvisation you mention and the one we see on the surface is planned on purpose for the local media and to keep the average citizen at a loss and undecided on who to blame for the current political mess while hezballah is secretly working under the table to achieve the two following goals:
     
    1- protecting their mafia style state within a state (pirates’ cove) status in lebanon and keeping the following government institutions’ vacuum going on in lebanon for as long as possible and make sure that any future government before its formation would give them iron clad guaranties it will not interfere in any form or shape in their illegal political, military, financial deals in the country and abroad.
     
    2- protecting the weapons they currently have since their purpose changed after the year 2000 from defending the south against israeli aggressions to defending their state and keep it away from any future lebanese government authority.
     
    after all these years and after all the political and financial gains they acquired and regardless of the lebanese people’s interests, hezballah and hezballah alone came to realize that a no government at all situation or a government where they can pick and choose at will is certainly the ideal solution. 
     
      

    1.  ghzayel,
                  You will have no disagreement from me on the two points that you highlight.

    2.  ghzayel,
                  You will have no disagreement from me on the two points that you highlight.

    3.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      exactly what i had in mind in my reply to this article…although it seems that hizb has no plans…but in fact it does…and what we are seeing now are exactly his plans.

  6.  Avatar
    Anonymous

     
      
      
    …Every move taken by the “new majority” since then has been nothing short of amateurish improvisation…
     
    ya ghassan,
     
    ya jamea!!! if we consider that hezballah unfortunately is playing now a significant negative role in lebanon then we start to realize that everything that is happening on the political scene is planned to their advantage.
      
    yes, the amateurish improvisation you mention and the one we see on the surface is planned on purpose for the local media and to keep the average citizen at a loss and undecided on who to blame for the current political mess while hezballah is secretly working under the table to achieve the two following goals:
     
    1- protecting their mafia style state within a state (pirates’ cove) status in lebanon and keeping the following government institutions’ vacuum going on in lebanon for as long as possible and make sure that any future government before its formation would give them iron clad guaranties it will not interfere in any form or shape in their illegal political, military, financial deals in the country and abroad.
     
    2- protecting the weapons they currently have since their purpose changed after the year 2000 from defending the south against israeli aggressions to defending their state and keep it away from any future lebanese government authority.
     
    after all these years and after all the political and financial gains they acquired and regardless of the lebanese people’s interests, hezballah and hezballah alone came to realize that a no government at all situation or a government where they can pick and choose at will is certainly the ideal solution. 
     
      

  7. Sebouh80 Avatar
    Sebouh80

    Sadly speaking, the post Taef political arrangement in Lebanon has given the regional patron states the futher power and influence to interfere in every domestic political issue  ranging from the regular political bickerings among the factionalized elites in Lebanon to the blessing of government formations.
    Notice, back in 2005, Mr.Mikati’s interim government was unanimously approved by both Syria and Saudi Arabia, but this time around lot has changed  since this period particularly the ongoing unravelings in the region.

    Today the entire Arab world is engulfed with revolutions which first started in Tunisia earlier this year and at moment no one knows were this fervor might end up. From this point, we can  conclude that the formation of either technocratic or any other form of cabinit is one of the least priorities among the parties who have vested interests in Lebanon.
    Finally, this is a testimony of a total failure and bankruptcy of the ruling political class in Lebanon whether it be the the so called March 14 or March 8 movements. They have proven themselves time and again their incompetence and political immaturity especially in matters relating to the welfare of the country.

    1. Ghassan Karam Avatar
      Ghassan Karam

       Sebouh,
                   The fact of the matter is that Lebanon will still need a cabinet. I think that Lebanon will be served best with a technocratic government . And yes we do need to find a Lebanese formula instead of all of these foreign spheres of influence.
                   I do not want to keep on going to the same issue but I feel that I must 🙂 no democracy can exist without a free press. No Lebanese media makes any profits, they all depend on cash flows from foreign governments and so the Lebanese citizen will never get the real story about anything. Everything in the media must serve the goals of the funders.

      1. antar2011 Avatar
        antar2011

        inshaAllah with the arab spring taken hold in the arab world, we will see free media because then the pple will be free.

        let’s be optimistic! 

  8.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Sadly speaking, the post Taef political arrangement in Lebanon has given the regional patron states the futher power and influence to interfere in every domestic political issue  ranging from the regular political bickerings among the factionalized elites in Lebanon to the blessing of government formations.
    Notice, back in 2005, Mr.Mikati’s interim government was unanimously approved by both Syria and Saudi Arabia, but this time around lot has changed  since this period particularly the ongoing unravelings in the region.

    Today the entire Arab world is engulfed with revolutions which first started in Tunisia earlier this year and at moment no one knows were this fervor might end up. From this point, we can  conclude that the formation of either technocratic or any other form of cabinit is one of the least priorities among the parties who have vested interests in Lebanon.
    Finally, this is a testimony of a total failure and bankruptcy of the ruling political class in Lebanon whether it be the the so called March 14 or March 8 movements. They have proven themselves time and again their incompetence and political immaturity especially in matters relating to the welfare of the country.

    1.  Sebouh,
                   The fact of the matter is that Lebanon will still need a cabinet. I think that Lebanon will be served best with a technocratic government . And yes we do need to find a Lebanese formula instead of all of these foreign spheres of influence.
                   I do not want to keep on going to the same issue but I feel that I must 🙂 no democracy can exist without a free press. No Lebanese media makes any profits, they all depend on cash flows from foreign governments and so the Lebanese citizen will never get the real story about anything. Everything in the media must serve the goals of the funders.

      1.  Avatar
        Anonymous

        inshaAllah with the arab spring taken hold in the arab world, we will see free media because then the pple will be free.

        let’s be optimistic! 

  9. PROPHET.T Avatar
    PROPHET.T

     Ghassan,
    I’d like  to  repeat what  I said right  after the downfall of PM Hariri. M8 coalition brought  down  the  cabinet  of PM Hariri because of his  position on  STL. 
    The STL seemed  ,at that time,  to have seriously worried the M8 and especially Ha.M8 never  had  any  intention of forming  a cabinet,especially  after  the Arab spring  landed  in  Damascus.Syria’s regime would see no reason  to have  any  stability in Lebanon,nor any cabinet   at a time  it  is  facing  a major revolt   which  is threatening  the  existence of the regime.
     The Only  one  who  seriously  wanted a cabinet,in my  views , is Aoun. He’s always hungry  for power. He  has no  clue  to what HA was planning.
    The others believe that a  no-government would  not be  as  bad  as  having a   Hariri cabinet,or any  other  cabinet.
    the  fact  that  Hariri was ousted  is an indication of the collapse of the Douha agreement,and the failure of the Taif accord.
    As a result, the presidency  of Suleiman is  under threat since  He was a product  of the Douha arrangement.
    the idea of a technocrat  Government is as  good or bad as any to M8 and M14.Neither group is interested  or capable of introducing  any  solution to any  of the pressing  issues.

    1. Ghassan Karam Avatar
      Ghassan Karam

       Prophet.t
                    I am not suggesting that a technocratic cabinet is a panacea, far from it. A cabinet without the cooperation of the legislature will not be able to accomplish much. However, a cabinet of technocrats might not be perceived as a threat by any of the two parties and so might be able to do some good. Furthermore , the main task of the next cabinet is to prepare for an honest electionand to modernize the electoral law. Mr. Mikati did this rather well in his previous 90 days in office and I trust that he can deliver another acceptable performance since he is not committed to any of the two camps.

  10. PROPHET.T Avatar
    PROPHET.T

     Ghassan,
    I’d like  to  repeat what  I said right  after the downfall of PM Hariri. M8 coalition brought  down  the  cabinet  of PM Hariri because of his  position on  STL. 
    The STL seemed  ,at that time,  to have seriously worried the M8 and especially Ha.M8 never  had  any  intention of forming  a cabinet,especially  after  the Arab spring  landed  in  Damascus.Syria’s regime would see no reason  to have  any  stability in Lebanon,nor any cabinet   at a time  it  is  facing  a major revolt   which  is threatening  the  existence of the regime.
     The Only  one  who  seriously  wanted a cabinet,in my  views , is Aoun. He’s always hungry  for power. He  has no  clue  to what HA was planning.
    The others believe that a  no-government would  not be  as  bad  as  having a   Hariri cabinet,or any  other  cabinet.
    the  fact  that  Hariri was ousted  is an indication of the collapse of the Douha agreement,and the failure of the Taif accord.
    As a result, the presidency  of Suleiman is  under threat since  He was a product  of the Douha arrangement.
    the idea of a technocrat  Government is as  good or bad as any to M8 and M14.Neither group is interested  or capable of introducing  any  solution to any  of the pressing  issues.

    1.  Prophet.t
                    I am not suggesting that a technocratic cabinet is a panacea, far from it. A cabinet without the cooperation of the legislature will not be able to accomplish much. However, a cabinet of technocrats might not be perceived as a threat by any of the two parties and so might be able to do some good. Furthermore , the main task of the next cabinet is to prepare for an honest electionand to modernize the electoral law. Mr. Mikati did this rather well in his previous 90 days in office and I trust that he can deliver another acceptable performance since he is not committed to any of the two camps.

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