Hassan Diab
Photo: MOHAMED AZAKIR / REUTERSAfter the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut, the Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab (61) has announced the resignation of his entire government. In a televised address on Monday evening, Diab made the widespread corruption in his home country partly responsible for the huge detonation. The head of government reacted to public pressure and violent protests after just under a week. In the center of the capital, Beirut, there were new clashes between security forces and demonstrators in the evening.
In his address, Diab said that corruption is greater than Lebanon. For some, it's just a matter of getting political points. Previously, Justice Minister Marie-Claude Nadschm and Finance Minister Ghasi Wasni, two other members of his government, had resigned from their offices. This left the Prime Minister practically no other choice.
Many Lebanese people blame the government for the at least 160 dead and more than 6,000 injured last Tuesday. The army pulled five more bodies from the rubble on Monday. The detonation is said to have been triggered by large quantities of the highly explosive chemical ammonium nitrate, which were stored there for years without any safety precautions. The investigation into the exact cause of the disaster is still ongoing.
Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad and Environment Minister Damianos Kattar resigned from their posts on Sunday . Last week, while visiting the site of the disaster, Nadschm was insulted by angry people and splashed with water. At the weekend, a mourning and protest rally in the center of Beirut turned into violence and chaos.
Angry demonstrators wanted to break the barriers to parliament, security forces use tear gas. There were clashes for hours. According to official information, one policeman was killed and more than 200 people were injured.
Only ruled for half a year
In the country on the Mediterranean Sea, Diab only took over the office of head of government in January after months of hanging out. He succeeded Saad Hariri (50), who resigned after mass protests in late October 2019. Due to a severe economic crisis and the corona pandemic, large parts of the Lebanese population slipped into poverty during his tenure. In March, Lebanon had to declare national bankruptcy for the first time; talks about an aid loan from the International Monetary Fund have so far not advanced.
The Prime Minister initially announced at the weekend that he would propose an early election to the cabinet this Monday. He wanted to calm the situation down. The next vote on parliament in Lebanon would not actually take place until 2022. In the end, however, he could no longer assert himself.
The leading political blocs in parliament must now agree on a successor. It is unclear how long this will take. The Shiite Hezbollah, allied with Iran, plays a central role and is one of the country's most influential political forces. Hardly any government can be formed against Hezbollah. Observers assume, however, that even an early election of parliament will not calm the situation. The demonstrators are demanding far-reaching political reforms.
Foreign Minister Maas sets conditions for aid
Corresponding demands can also be heard from abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) wants to help Lebanon with a rescue package, but is demanding political agreement on comprehensive reforms. UN General Secretary António Guterres (71) also called for political changes. At the same time, he promised long-term support. "The United Nations system will continue to assist Lebanon in this emergency in every possible way."
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (53, SPD) announced on Deutschlandfunk that he would be traveling to Lebanon this Wednesday. In addition to emergency aid that was collected at a donor conference on Sunday, the crisis country needed longer-term support. But this could only happen if long-announced reforms were introduced. Germany and Europe are ready to help.
Maas added: "But we will also say that we are of the opinion that this country must be reformed, that corruption must end and that all other resources that are available, for example from Europe, are certainly linked to it. " New elections are now "the least" that the population can expect.
ak / dpa