Lebanon’s presidential elections: between shameless and shameful
Lebanon is not having a presidential race, it is a circus! Except this one is dark and scary; no fun here
It’s a presidential race in a country that cannot come together or agree on anything. From the minuscule and mundane to the gigantic touching on national security issues, Lebanese politicians bicker along party lines, supporters cheer them blindly without questioning or criticizing or holding them accountable. Yet, they demand with the most severe tones full accountability, harshest judgments and absolutely no leniency towards their opponents regardless of whether they were actually guilty or not. Their crime is simply daring to be a foe.
This is not a country, it’s a madhouse where the most insane, the most unreasonable, the loudest and brutes hog attention and abuse it to the maximum extent possible.
With every political battle, Lebanon and the helpless victimized population it has left, sink deeper into an unavoidable demise they have barely escaped too many times over the past decades.
A severe case of Alzheimer’s
A reminder to the Lebanese with a severe case of Alzheimer’s or flat out senility, that their leaders have proven over the course of time their inability to lead or make an intelligent decision on your behalf or that of your fellow countrymen. An emergency government was barely agreed upon after a year of failed attempts to form an official one that merits its cabinet posts. Although some ministers and other parliamentarians play the game as if they are legitimate, it is no secret how they came to power and what determines whether they stay or go.
This is not a presidential race, it is a circus! Except this one is dark and scary; no fun here
Octavia NasrSamir Geagea’s presidency bid shakes things up which makes some uncomfortable. The narcissistic former General who once proudly declared, “I am Prime Minister and five ministers at once” now faces the moment of uncomfortable truth. Could Lebanon not want him for President and choose his nemesis for the post instead?
This is not a presidential race, it is a circus! Except this one is dark and scary; no fun here, only fear of the unknown while plotting takes place in shadowy corners. It takes guts to run for President in Lebanon for those who dare go against the current and make waves.
Samir Geagea is not shameless to throw his hat in the ring; it would actually be shameful if he did not. Geagea like Franjiyeh, Aoun, Gemayel, Kattar and other hopefuls for the Maronite presidential seat, has every right to run that race. If he wins, it would be only on merit. Lebanon might actually succeed in electing a president without approval from Syria or Iran for the first time since Bashir Gemayel.
This article was first published in al-Nahar on April 7, 2014.
___________________________
Multi-award-winning journalist Octavia Nasr served as CNN’s senior editor of Middle Eastern affairs, and is regarded as one of the pioneers of the use of social media in traditional media. She moved to CNN in 1990, but was dismissed in 2010 after tweeting her sorrow at the death of Hezbollah’s Mohammed Fadlallah. Nasr now runs her own firm, Bridges Media Consulting, whose main aim is to help companies better leverage the use of social networks.
-
Alawite leader in Lebanon charged with ‘terror ties’
Rifaat Eid, the political leader of the Arab Democratic Party, was accused along with 11 others of belonging to a terrorist group Middle East -
One million Syrians take refuge in Lebanon
Can anyone imagine the ramifications of one million Syrians seeking refuge in Lebanon? Middle East -
Lebanon’s youth fight for future free from domestic violence
After months of protests, Lebanon finally passed a solid law that protects women from domestic abuse Middle East -
Former Lebanon warlord to stand for president
Geagea was the only Lebanese civil war leader to be jailed, but was released under an amnesty in 2005 Middle East -
Syrian refugees in Lebanon
More than one million Syrians have registered as refugees in Lebanon after fleeing war in their country, inflicting a "staggering" impact on ... Perspective -
Syrian refugees in Lebanon more than 1 million
U.N. refugee agency says the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon is now equal to a quarter of the country’s resident population Middle East -
‘National dialogue’ - a waste of time in Lebanon
The basis of national dialogue is national defense strategy. Yet, the circumstances are not appropriate to discuss this issue. Middle East -
Lebanon army vows to fight ‘terror’ after troops killed
Lebanon’s army vowed to battle 'terrorism' hours after a suicide bomber killed three soldiers on Saturday Middle East