President of the National Dialogue Party, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, stressed that it was unacceptable to frighten the people and the streets with the prospect of a power vacuum. He called for the government to resign swiftly, before the country descended into chaos, explaining that the vacuum was merely a scare tactic and not a real threat, as Lebanon has a constitution and a resigned government can continue in a caretaker capacity.

He noted that the “To Work” government had met only sporadically, adding that its inability to spend public funds might actually be for the best, particularly since it had not spent a single penny on development projects.

Addressing those calling for some ministers from the current government to remain in office, Makhzoumi asked how ministers accused by the public of corruption and squandering the people’s money could be brought back into power. He also questioned how political leaders could fail to recognize the scale of the popular mobilization in the streets compared with the number of people who had voted for the current political class.

He pointed out that the people would not accept the return of this political authority, particularly given the widespread lack of confidence in the political class as a whole and in its representatives in the government.

Makhzoumi said that the government’s continued hold on power after people had taken to the streets demonstrated a lack of responsibility toward their demands and urgent national obligations, foremost among them the 2020 budget.

He also noted that the fears being raised about the country’s financial situation were unjustified, asking who could guarantee that reopening the banks would produce positive financial results amid the public’s lack of confidence in the government and the country’s financial management.