Lebanon: Reports of Mohammad Safadi nomination as PM lead to protests

After month-long nationwide protests in Lebanon, demonstrators again took to streets on November 15 following the reports of business tycoon Mohammad Safadi being nominated as the next Prime Minister came out. Protesters were quick to express their anger over the reports that the decision was made at a meeting between former PM Saad Hariri and representatives of the major Shia parties, Hezbollah and Amal.

Economic and political crisis

According to media reports, Lebanon's Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil confirmed that Safadi agreed on taking the role. Lebanon is currently going through a severe economic crisis which catapulted the country into a political crisis following nationwide protests triggered by new proposed taxes. The country’s gross debt, at 85.4 billion dollars, had increased by 0.7 per cent from last year, one of the biggest public debt ratios in the world. Saad Hariri had resigned on October 29 as Lebanon’s Prime Minister, on of the key demands of protesters, after anti-government demonstrations accused the government of corruption and mismanagement.

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Local official killed

On November 13, a man was killed by soldiers during the new wave demonstrations, which was also the first reported death due to violent clashes. The man, identified as a local official of Walid Jumblatt-led Progressive Socialist Party, was shot after a squabble with Lebanese soldiers in Khaldeh, south of Beirut. Jumblatt assured the angry crowd, outside the hospital, of an investigation in the protester’s death and urged them to calm down.

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Government sans politicians

President Michel Aoun had requested the protesters to go back home as the demonstrations were blocking the work of the country.

“If you are going to continue this way (protesting) you will be striking at Lebanon, striking at your interests and we will all lose,” Aoun said.

Protesters have been demanding a government formed of technocrats to help bring important economic reforms in the country. But the politicians were unsure about the idea of a government sans politicians and comprised of only experts.

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(With Inputs from Agencies)