When Lebanon finds itself in crisis and at a dangerous crossroads, certain conditions must be taken into account—not only regarding the formation of a government with exceptional powers, but also the responsibilities and tasks it must undertake.
Such a government should be small and composed of independent, capable ministers and experts, each in their respective field of specialization. They should be respected within their communities and be people who carry the nation on their shoulders, rather than seek to ride on the shoulders of its citizens.
The tasks of this government can be summarized as follows:
- Conduct a transparent and comprehensive investigation into the Beirut Port explosion, under international supervision, to uncover all the facts surrounding this catastrophe that struck the capital, the beating heart of the nation.
- Conduct a forensic financial audit covering not only the accounts of Banque du Liban, but also those of all ministries and banks, beginning with the Ministries of Energy, Finance, and Telecommunications.
- Immediately begin implementing all required reforms, in parallel with reaching a practical and effective agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
- Hold early parliamentary elections in which neither the Prime Minister nor any of the ministers may run for office, paving the way for a new authority to lead the process of reform and recovery.
- Find a comprehensive and lasting solution to the electricity sector, which has drained the state’s finances for decades.
- Rebuild Beirut following the devastation caused by the port explosion.
- Reassess the assets of the state and its affiliated companies and institutions through specialized entities to recover their true value. This should involve terminating existing contracts, changing management, and then determining whether to establish public-private partnerships or create a sovereign wealth fund managed by an independent body. The fund would manage state assets transparently and publicly, allocating part of its proceeds to the state and the remainder toward repaying depositors’ funds.
This government has the responsibility of restoring Lebanon to its rightful place among vibrant, active nations in its region and throughout the world. This can be achieved if the government holds early parliamentary elections, allowing change to emerge from ballot boxes marked by the tragedy of the Beirut Port explosion.
The destruction caused by the blast struck a devastating blow to the capital. It exposed the reality of a corrupt political class that made a practice of humiliating people, even to the point of death. This devastation came after the blatant theft of people’s money and deposits. It also occurred amid a pandemic that had swept the world, but in Lebanon, it was compounded by corruption, plunder, and death resulting from scarcity.
Indeed, the only response to all this destruction, and the only way to prevent its recurrence, is through the ballot box and new parliamentary elections.
This is how the centenary of the State of Greater Lebanon should be celebrated. Otherwise, if we fail to act, another generation will inevitably emerge—one that understands the value of this country and restores it to the standing it deserves, without owing anything to a political class that tore the nation’s garment to conceal its own nakedness, or to foreign countries competing to secure the allegiance of its sects.
Dawn is near, and tomorrow is near for those who await it. The people of Lebanon will spare no effort to save their country and ensure that it remains forever the final homeland of all its people.
MP Fouad Makhzoumi