Ya Libnan

Mikati’s cabinet secures Vote of Confidence

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As reported by Ya Libnan earlier today March 14 MPs walked out from the parliament as soon as Speaker Nabih Berri began the procedure for granting the vote of confidence to the newly formed cabinet.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government secured the vote of confidence with 68 out of a possible 128 votes .

During the vote, opposition MP Robert Ghanem remained in the parliament hall but abstained from voting.

“The government confirms it will continue the path of the (Special Tribunal for Lebanon … and continue to cooperate in this regard as per the U.N. Security Council Resolution which set up the tribunal to see justice served,” Mikati said ahead of the vote.

Commenting on the opposition’s walkout ahead of the vote, Speaker Nabih Berri said: “It is their democratic right if this is their choice.”

Last week, the U.N.-backed STL issued an indictment in the assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri and ordered the arrest of four Hizbullah members over the murder.

Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan, who is a member of the parliamentary majority, did not attend the session.

Arslan had resigned as state minister from Miqati’s cabinet hours after its line-up was announced in protest at the fact that he was not granted a key portfolio.

MPs Nicolas Fattoush and Michel Murr, who were allied with the opposition during the 2009 parliamentary elections, granted the government their votes of confidence.

Thursday’s vote capped three days of parliamentary talks on the government’s Policy Statement, which had triggered a heated debate between the majority and the opposition, led by former premier Saad Hariri.

Former PM Saad Hariri did not attend Thursday’s for security reasons. He is reportedly still in Paris due to the many life threats he received.

“I am following my conscience, my ethics, my loyalty to (slain) prime minister Rafik Hariri,” Mikati said when interrupted by a member of the opposition, prompting a round of applause from the audience.

“You will suffer during every cabinet session and during the discussion of every issue and you will regret accepting to become a hostage of (a government) capable of imposing its view on you,” MP Boutros Harb told PM Minister Najib Mikati earlier today adding: “The country will pay the price because it will turn into a dictatorship.”

This is the clause pertaining to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the ministerial statement which was the main concern for the new opposition

14. Our government respects international resolutions, thus it is keen to reveal and expose the truth regarding the crime of the assassination of martyr Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and his companions. The government will follow the progress of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon which was initially established to achieve righteousness and justice, without politicization or revenge, and without any negative impact on Lebanon’s stability, unity and civil peace.

4 Hezbollah suspects

STL confirmed the indictments in the assassination of Lebanon’s former PM Hariri on Thursday. An STL delegation met with Lebanon’s state prosecutor Said Mirza on Thursday and handed him a copy of the Lebanon portion of the indictment and the arrest warrants. Two of the suspects Mustafa Badreddine and Salim Ayyash are reportedly senior members of the Iranian and Syrian-backed Hezbollah while the other two Hezbollah members Hassan Aneissy, also known as Hassan Issa, and Assad Sabra played a supporting role in the execution of the assassination.

Lebanon has 30 days to find and arrest the suspects but Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said Saturday that the party would not cooperate with the tribunal.

“No Lebanese government will be able to carry out any arrests whether in 30 days, 30 years or even 300 years.”

“We reject the Special Tribunal for Lebanon along with each and every void accusation it issues, which to us is the equivalent of an attack against Hezbollah,” Nasrallah added in his hour-long speech.

Nasrallah admitted all the four suspects are Hezbollah members:

“The suspects named in the indictment are brothers who have an honorable history in resisting Israeli occupation.” He said

The whereabouts of the four remain unknown but some reports indicated that the two prime suspects in the assassination already fled to Iran.

Professor Ghassan Karam commented about Nasrallah’s defiance in an article in Ya Libnan: ” Nasrallah has acted as judge, jury and executioner. He has determined that his people are not guilty and that no one should dream of arresting any of them”.

“My only advice to those charged is that they should consult a lawyer as soon as possible…Now is the time for defense.” Francois Roux, the head of the Defense Office of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon said in addressing the four Hezbollah members who were indicted in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri

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62 responses to “Mikati’s cabinet secures Vote of Confidence”

  1. Mosetsfire Avatar
    Mosetsfire

    Your loyalty to Rafik Hariri died when you became part of the coup d’etat on his son’s government. Hopefully irony will visit you, Mr. Mikati, in the form of your assassination and then you can truly be loyal to Rafik Hariri as they add your list to the name of martyrs, except you will not be a martyr, you’ll just be a dead dog.

  2. Mosetsfire Avatar
    Mosetsfire

    Your loyalty to Rafik Hariri died when you became part of the coup d’etat on his son’s government. Hopefully irony will visit you, Mr. Mikati, in the form of your assassination and then you can truly be loyal to Rafik Hariri as they add your list to the name of martyrs, except you will not be a martyr, you’ll just be a dead dog.

  3. Mohamad Masri Avatar
    Mohamad Masri

    Your loyalty to Rafik Hariri died when you became part of the coup d’etat on his son’s government. Hopefully irony will visit you, Mr. Mikati, in the form of your assassination and then you can truly be loyal to Rafik Hariri as they add your list to the name of martyrs, except you will not be a martyr, you’ll just be a dead dog.

  4. PROPHET.T Avatar
    PROPHET.T

    Despite all of its flaws, the “democratic system” finally produced –and for the first time-a government that truly represents those who formed it and supported it.
    I have always opposed those “National unity Governments” that Lebanese politicians and political parties prided themselves with. All of those cabinets were nothing but a big lie, deception, and /or postponement of troubling issues.
      Whether one likes Mikati and his cabinet or not, the man was able, through the existing democratic system, to form a cabinet and secure a vote of confidence in the elected parliament.  Majorities always shift from one side to another as a result of elections or for different reasons.
    That being said, I don’t  expect  Mikati’s cabinet to accomplish the  aspirations of  Lebanese  people ,or even the  aspiration of   those who supported  it for the same  reasons  that  other cabinets failed to  do so. All Lebanese governments are captives of the rotten political and sectarian system. None of  the previous  cabinets  had a true political or economical programs to  implement; they all came  to manage  whatever crisis of its  time, never  touched the  core  structural and political issues.
    Until this rotten system is totally abolished, and true democratic reforms are implemented, Lebanon will continue to be a failed state.

    1. antar2011 Avatar
      antar2011

      what a farce in a  “democractic system” when it produces a govt that was not chosen by the pple.

      democractic systems are made by the poeple for the pple. this govt was made by the intimidation of weapons by the thugs that uses them…

      this “democractic’ govt was formed by anything other then ” a democratic process”…as with other things in lebanon, this govt is a lie to cover up illegitimate bodies that have taken lebanon hostige.

      i am amazed to see Miktai still giving us some words he cannot deliver yet have the audacity to tell us he is acting from his conscience….he did not only betray the blood of his friends but also the voters who gave him their votes to represent them in parliament.

      he can tells us everything he can but at the end of the day, everyone knows how he was “chosen” to over throw the previous legitimate govt, everyone was following the shameful “negotiations” in chosing his govt [it was chosen for him] and everyone still remembers 5 months ago when he declared after his “nomination from Hizbollah”  that he is centrist and will be fair to both sides…yet look where “fairness to both sides” got us now.

      this man deserves nothing but the wrath of Allah on him…does he remember that there is a divine entity [Allah] who is watching what he is doing i wonder?
      yes, only Allah knows this man’s intentions….but what is the value of “pure” intentions when the actions are anything but pure.

      when this man has chosen to ignore his consience, his national loyalty, his comitment infront of a religious figure and other respectable men, he chose the way of the fallen, of greed and of treason… no matter what he says, he cannot deliver if it does not serves his master’s interests.

      the least he can do is quit rather then get upset and complain that pple are not giving him a chance and swears left and right like a little boy who has been caught red handed…what are the values of oaths from the lips of a child!

      if he has an ounce of honour and national pride, when he sees that a substantial number of lebanese object to him, he should readily quit and give up the position to someone who all lebanese see fit.

      this man have lost respect not only from me but from the majority of the lebanese he claims he cares about.

      1. PROPHET.T Avatar
        PROPHET.T

        Antar,
        It is not  my  intention  to drag  this discussion  into a tit for tat. Nevertheless, the  system we have in place did  produce a majority  that  eventually  lost  some of its allies  and the majority  shifted to the other  side. I never said that  our  system  is  perfect. It  is a system  full of flaws.
        I  agree that a system should  be made  by  the people for  the people, yet it  is  what  it  is. As far as your claim that  it was the weapons that   created this majority, you are  so wrong . if weapons can  do such a thing, M14 would not have had the  majority as  a result of the election. It was really a shift of alliance, no more, no less.
        I have called for reforms for the entire Lebanese structure, and not only for the  electoral system.
         I wonder who you have in mind as a person who all Lebanese see fit. Does such a person exist? Would you ever expect a whole country or a society to agree on one person? It has happened, ONLY, in totalitarian regimes where elections reproduced dictators with 99.5% of the votes. So I would not want any person that  all Lebanese “agree” on.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          So … do you think Mikati will now look around the world to find a system that DOES work for all the people – without only ‘one man’  deciding the fate of a country – and then begin to make the change from this system which does not work?
          Would they let him?

        2. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          So … do you think Mikati will now look around the world to find a system that DOES work for all the people – without only ‘one man’  deciding the fate of a country – and then begin to make the change from this system which does not work?
          Would they let him?

        3. PROPHET.T Avatar
          PROPHET.T

          5thDrawer
          It is very obvious that you have missed the core point of my original comment. This is not about Mikati or Hariri,but rather about  a new experiment in  Lebanese political life ,and about the way most  cabinets have been  formed,where for the first  time  a cabinet  is  formed according  to  actual majority /minority  rule, despite the questions you and I  may have about the system that  created  such  majority, or about  the shifts that  altered  the parliamentary  landscape.
          This is the  first time a thin majority takes it  upon itself  to form a government, and claim responsibility, compared to the  so called  “national unity  governments” which ended  up  in  failure  due to the fact that  two opposing  camps deceived themselves and the rest  of  us by claiming  a unity  that  never existed.
          The changes and reforms I had in mind, will not come  as a result  of this  government  or  a unity  government, but rather  through a national  understanding that a change must  be forced on the political and sectarian elites who keep lying  to us about  a  change they  do not  want , because it does not  serve their interests.

        4. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Prophet T.
          What you propose, it seems, is a ‘National Referendum’ (one citizen – one vote) to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a desire to formulate a new Lebanese System of government – since the old one doesn’t work for ‘the people’.
          Assume you can get this done, and the people (51% at least) respect the concept of simple majority and vote ‘Yes’ for change.
          Now you have a ‘mandate’ to begin the dialogue … but you do not want dialogue with any religion, politician, or business.
          Who has most interest in creating a free and fair Utopia .. and at the same time does not wish to run it??
          Philosophers? Get a room full of them together. And a few professors of economics too. (no bankers)
          And IF you can finally come up with a Constitution that should work for ALL … and be changed only by equal, fair, and individual debate … then search for people who would LIKE to see it implemented. Those are the ones who could work for it as ‘politicians’.
          AND THEN .. you go back to the people … and explain very carefully what ‘the best minds’ think will work – and have another referendum – Yes, or No.
          Perhaps ‘the people’ are ready to listen.
          After that, you can vote for ‘parties’ who will adhere to the basic principals – and perhaps work together for that, as they work to make things better in the different ares of the country with separate problems – people represented by those they elect for that pupose.
          Could this be done in a year?
          Evolution of concepts takes MUCH longer.

        5. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Prophet T.
          What you propose, it seems, is a ‘National Referendum’ (one citizen – one vote) to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a desire to formulate a new Lebanese System of government – since the old one doesn’t work for ‘the people’.
          Assume you can get this done, and the people (51% at least) respect the concept of simple majority and vote ‘Yes’ for change.
          Now you have a ‘mandate’ to begin the dialogue … but you do not want dialogue with any religion, politician, or business.
          Who has most interest in creating a free and fair Utopia .. and at the same time does not wish to run it??
          Philosophers? Get a room full of them together. And a few professors of economics too. (no bankers)
          And IF you can finally come up with a Constitution that should work for ALL … and be changed only by equal, fair, and individual debate … then search for people who would LIKE to see it implemented. Those are the ones who could work for it as ‘politicians’.
          AND THEN .. you go back to the people … and explain very carefully what ‘the best minds’ think will work – and have another referendum – Yes, or No.
          Perhaps ‘the people’ are ready to listen.
          After that, you can vote for ‘parties’ who will adhere to the basic principals – and perhaps work together for that, as they work to make things better in the different ares of the country with separate problems – people represented by those they elect for that pupose.
          Could this be done in a year?
          Evolution of concepts takes MUCH longer.

        6. PROPHET.T Avatar
          PROPHET.T

          5thDrawer,
          I ‘m guilty for not stating “SIMPLE parliamentary majority” when I talked about simple majority because that is exactly what I had in mind.I just wanted to make this clear that I was talking about the exsisting system.
          Speaking of a NEW Lebanese System of government, I think most people agree that Lebanon does indeed need a modern system of government. The last 66 years of our sectarian system has been nothing but failure, and will continue to be so.
          In an  ideal  situation, a simple majority system  derived from a one-man -one -vote would  be ideal, but I          understand the complicity of Lebanon’s  society  so well, that I’m not  ready  to call for  such  a system, although the temptation is  there.
          Having said that, I never called for a referendum and not sure one is needed. Many countries that practice democracies with a one-man –one vote system started doing so without having a referendum on whether they should so or not.
          I  don’t  claim  to  know what   system would  work  best for Lebanon, But I do insist that  our current  sectarian system must  be abolished and replaced by a civil and more  representative  system. There are  plenty of examples out there  in  the  world that  could be examined, but we should not  sit  idle when we witness the  failure and the deterioration of our  system on a daily  bases. A revolution or a movement  by the public can make a difference in pressuring  the warlords, and the  sectarian  leadership  into giving  up their  power, and allowing  for a better  system to take place. As Mr. Karam has suggested on numerous occasions, it would require a movement by the young generation of Lebanese to rise and say enough is enough. Down with sectarianism and with corrupt leaderships, yes to civil and true democratic system of government.
          As for your question of whether it  could be done  in a year, I’d  say;  building  societies and  nations take years, but  planting the seeds, and  finding  the  right  path  could take a  year  or less,provided that the will and desire is there.

        7. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Prophet T.
          Perhaps best to hope that open-discussion sites like this become more widely read, that fewer reporters are beaten for reporting, and a thirst for change combined with knowledge will move the thinking of the young to some sort of revelation.
          Thanks for all your thoughts. (I really need to find a beach and listen to waves. 😉

        8. antar2011 Avatar
          antar2011

          no problems

          regardless of its flaws, the system clearly states who and how a govt is to be made up after fair election results.
          what happened when this govt was created has nothing to do with the pple rather it stressed a disregard for respecting the results of election whic in any other country is respected and regarded as the voice of the pple…but no, not in lebanon.

          what other explanation a lebanese has other then the intimidation of weapons when he sees Jumblatt changing stances on who he is nominating for PM in a matter of a couple of days after “remarkably” few “good men” with black shirts displayed their “heroism” in streets of beirut…oh but of course that’s a coincidence…or perhaps these “few good men’ who are not locals to the area and who are in contrast to this area’s community’s political affiliation, happened to be taking a leisurely walk on the streets and decided..what the heck, i want to role play a scene from the xbox game black ops on the streets of beirut!

          people in HA should not insult our intelligence…. please!

          whoever the person from the majority of the party which was chosen by fair national elections is an example..simple and clear… it exists when there is no intimidation of the use weapons in every bit of political issue. it happens in democratic societies.

          what happened in lebanon in the formation of this govt is similar to the decision taken to be taken to war in 2006, similar to the decision for may 2008 and similar to the decision taken for the resignation from the previous govt.
          if the source of these decisions in these event cannot be described as a totalitarian method…what is?  

            

        9. geo metro Avatar
          geo metro

          greetings prophet,

          as allways you make a good point as saddam  got 99.9 % when he ran an election. my gripe is that the whole govenment system is riddled with priorities and alterior motives,vandettas and allegiance to outside forces that grosssly disqualifies them from being fit to serve the lebanese public who is powerless and despoerately needs  somebody to take the lead to improve their quality of life. besides a few that are rough with their language on this site i think many have shown sincere out reach to one another despite their background to probably make them more qualified to run this govenrmnet in a  more promising manner and uniting .

    2. PROPHET.T Avatar
      PROPHET.T

      geometri,
      As always, it is nice to see you back, and I hope all is well with you and yours.
      You made a very  valid  point that alliances and loyalty  to outside countries and forces are a major  part  of  the  problems we are facing with  in Lebanon. This has been going on since modern Lebanon was created. One  of  the most  important  reasons Lebanese always feel they need  to seek  outside  support  or  protection  is the lack of national identity. Lebanon has no identity, instead it has 18 different identities, and they are all based on sectarian fears or “superiority”.
      National identity is the main recipe for any society to govern itself successfully, and to protect itself without the need for outside interference or support.
      All newly built  countries  were able  to  create a national identity  for  its  citizens ,who came from  different  cultures, background, and races, through a system of  government that   protected  all individuals, and treated them  equally, and required them to have  same  duties. Rule of law teach human to abide by the rules, and Lebanon never had a law and order. The so called leaders, break the law, and promote corruption on a daily bases.
      My  point  here, is that  a  new system of government  is needed ,and yes  the leaderships and warlords and clergymen we have in Lebanon  are not qualified ,nor  are they interested  in any  reform since  a  reform would  be against  every interest  they  have.

  5. PROPHET.T Avatar
    PROPHET.T

    Despite all of its flaws, the “democratic system” finally produced –and for the first time-a government that truly represents those who formed it and supported it.
    I have always opposed those “National unity Governments” that Lebanese politicians and political parties prided themselves with. All of those cabinets were nothing but a big lie, deception, and /or postponement of troubling issues.
      Whether one likes Mikati and his cabinet or not, the man was able, through the existing democratic system, to form a cabinet and secure a vote of confidence in the elected parliament.  Majorities always shift from one side to another as a result of elections or for different reasons.
    That being said, I don’t  expect  Mikati’s cabinet to accomplish the  aspirations of  Lebanese  people ,or even the  aspiration of   those who supported  it for the same  reasons  that  other cabinets failed to  do so. All Lebanese governments are captives of the rotten political and sectarian system. None of  the previous  cabinets  had a true political or economical programs to  implement; they all came  to manage  whatever crisis of its  time, never  touched the  core  structural and political issues.
    Until this rotten system is totally abolished, and true democratic reforms are implemented, Lebanon will continue to be a failed state.

    1. antar2011 Avatar
      antar2011

      what a farce in a  “democractic system” when it produces a govt that was not chosen by the pple.

      democractic systems are made by the poeple for the pple. this govt was made by the intimidation of weapons by the thugs that uses them…

      this “democractic’ govt was formed by anything other then ” a democratic process”…as with other things in lebanon, this govt is a lie to cover up illegitimate bodies that have taken lebanon hostige.

      i am amazed to see Miktai still giving us some words he cannot deliver yet have the audacity to tell us he is acting from his conscience….he did not only betray the blood of his friends but also the voters who gave him their votes to represent them in parliament.

      he can tells us everything he can but at the end of the day, everyone knows how he was “chosen” to over throw the previous legitimate govt, everyone was following the shameful “negotiations” in chosing his govt [it was chosen for him] and everyone still remembers 5 months ago when he declared after his “nomination from Hizbollah”  that he is centrist and will be fair to both sides…yet look where “fairness to both sides” got us now.

      this man deserves nothing but the wrath of Allah on him…does he remember that there is a divine entity [Allah] who is watching what he is doing i wonder?
      yes, only Allah knows this man’s intentions….but what is the value of “pure” intentions when the actions are anything but pure.

      when this man has chosen to ignore his consience, his national loyalty, his comitment infront of a religious figure and other respectable men, he chose the way of the fallen, of greed and of treason… no matter what he says, he cannot deliver if it does not serves his master’s interests.

      the least he can do is quit rather then get upset and complain that pple are not giving him a chance and swears left and right like a little boy who has been caught red handed…what are the values of oaths from the lips of a child!

      if he has an ounce of honour and national pride, when he sees that a substantial number of lebanese object to him, he should readily quit and give up the position to someone who all lebanese see fit.

      this man have lost respect not only from me but from the majority of the lebanese he claims he cares about.

    2. PROPHET.T Avatar
      PROPHET.T

      geometri,
      As always, it is nice to see you back, and I hope all is well with you and yours.
      You made a very  valid  point that alliances and loyalty  to outside countries and forces are a major  part  of  the  problems we are facing with  in Lebanon. This has been going on since modern Lebanon was created. One  of  the most  important  reasons Lebanese always feel they need  to seek  outside  support  or  protection  is the lack of national identity. Lebanon has no identity, instead it has 18 different identities, and they are all based on sectarian fears or “superiority”.
      National identity is the main recipe for any society to govern itself successfully, and to protect itself without the need for outside interference or support.
      All newly built  countries  were able  to  create a national identity  for  its  citizens ,who came from  different  cultures, background, and races, through a system of  government that   protected  all individuals, and treated them  equally, and required them to have  same  duties. Rule of law teach human to abide by the rules, and Lebanon never had a law and order. The so called leaders, break the law, and promote corruption on a daily bases.
      My  point  here, is that  a  new system of government  is needed ,and yes  the leaderships and warlords and clergymen we have in Lebanon  are not qualified ,nor  are they interested  in any  reform since  a  reform would  be against  every interest  they  have.

  6. PROPHET.T Avatar
    PROPHET.T

    Despite all of its flaws, the “democratic system” finally produced –and for the first time-a government that truly represents those who formed it and supported it.
    I have always opposed those “National unity Governments” that Lebanese politicians and political parties prided themselves with. All of those cabinets were nothing but a big lie, deception, and /or postponement of troubling issues.
      Whether one likes Mikati and his cabinet or not, the man was able, through the existing democratic system, to form a cabinet and secure a vote of confidence in the elected parliament.  Majorities always shift from one side to another as a result of elections or for different reasons.
    That being said, I don’t  expect  Mikati’s cabinet to accomplish the  aspirations of  Lebanese  people ,or even the  aspiration of   those who supported  it for the same  reasons  that  other cabinets failed to  do so. All Lebanese governments are captives of the rotten political and sectarian system. None of  the previous  cabinets  had a true political or economical programs to  implement; they all came  to manage  whatever crisis of its  time, never  touched the  core  structural and political issues.
    Until this rotten system is totally abolished, and true democratic reforms are implemented, Lebanon will continue to be a failed state.

    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      what a farce in a  “democractic system” when it produces a govt that was not chosen by the pple.

      democractic systems are made by the poeple for the pple. this govt was made by the intimidation of weapons by the thugs that uses them…

      this “democractic’ govt was formed by anything other then ” a democratic process”…as with other things in lebanon, this govt is a lie to cover up illegitimate bodies that have taken lebanon hostige.

      i am amazed to see Miktai still giving us some words he cannot deliver yet have the audacity to tell us he is acting from his conscience….he did not only betray the blood of his friends but also the voters who gave him their votes to represent them in parliament.

      he can tells us everything he can but at the end of the day, everyone knows how he was “chosen” to over throw the previous legitimate govt, everyone was following the shameful “negotiations” in chosing his govt [it was chosen for him] and everyone still remembers 5 months ago when he declared after his “nomination from Hizbollah”  that he is centrist and will be fair to both sides…yet look where he got to now.

      this man deserves nothing but the wrath of Allah on him…he no longer remembers that there is a divine entity [Allah] who is watching what he is doing and only Allah knows this man’s intentions….but what is the value of “pure” intentions when the actions are anything but pure.

      when this man has chosen to ignore his consience, his national loyalty, his comitment infront of a religious figure and other men around him, he chose the way of the fallen, of greed and of treason… no matter what he says, he cannot deliver if it does not serves his master’s interests.

      the least he can do is quit rather then get upset and complain that pple are not giving him a chance and swears left and right like a little boy who has been caught red handed…what are the values of oaths from the lips of a child!

      this man have lost respect not only from me but from the majority of the lebanese he claims he cares about.

      1. PROPHET.T Avatar
        PROPHET.T

        Antar,
        It is not  my  intention  to drag  this discussion  into a tit for tat. Nevertheless, the  system we have in place did  produce a majority  that  eventually  lost  some of its allies  and the majority  shifted to the other  side. I never said that  our  system  is  perfect. It  is a system  full of flaws.
        I  agree that a system should  be made  by  the people for  the people, yet it  is  what  it  is. As far as your claim that  it was the weapons that   created this majority, you are  so wrong . if weapons can  do such a thing, M14 would not have had the  majority as  a result of the election. It was really a shit of alliance, no more, no less.
        I have called for reforms for the entire Lebanese structure, and not only for the  electoral system.
         I wonder who you have in mind as a person who all Lebanese see fit. Does such a person exist? Would you ever expect a whole country or a society to agree on one person? It has happened, ONLY, in totalitarian regimes where elections reproduced dictators with 99.5% of the votes. So I would not want any person that  all Lebanese “agree” on.

        1. Avatar
          Anonymous

          So … do you think Mikati will now look around the world to find a system that DOES work for all the people – without only ‘one man’  deciding the fate of a country – and then begin to make the change from this system which does not work?
          Would they let him?

        2. PROPHET.T Avatar
          PROPHET.T

          5thDrawer
          It is very obvious that you have missed the core point of my original comment. This is not about Mikati or Hariri at all. It is about  a new experiment in  Lebanese politics ,and about the way most  cabinets have been  formed,where for the first  time  a cabinet  is  formed according  to  actual majority /minority  rule, despite the questions you and I  may have about the system that  created  such  majority, or about  the shifts that  altered  the parliamentary  landscape.
          This is the  first time a thin majority takes it  upon itself  to form a government, and claim responsibility, compared to the  so called  “national unity  governments” which ended  up  in  failure  due to the fact that  two opposing  camps deceived themselves and the rest  of  us by claiming  a unity  that  never existed.
          The changes and reforms I had in mind, will not come  as a result  of this  government  or  a unity  government, but rather  through a national  understanding that a change must  be forced on the political and sectarian elites who keep lying  to us about  a  change they  do not  want , because it does not  serve their interests.

        3. Avatar
          Anonymous

           Prophet T.

          What you propose, it seems, is a ‘National Referendum’ (one citizen – one vote) to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a desire to formulate a new Lebanese System of government – since the old one doesn’t work for ‘the people’.

          Assume you can get this done, and the people (51% at least) respect the concept of simple majority and vote ‘Yes’ for change.

           Now you have a ‘mandate’ to begin the dialogue … but you do not want dialogue with any religion, politician, or business.

          Who has most interest in creating  a free and fair Utopia .. and at the same time does not wish to run it??

           Philosophers?  Get a room full of them together. And a few professors of economics too. (no bankers)

          And IF you can finally come up with a Constitution that should work for ALL … and be changed only by equal, fair, and individual debate … then search for people who would LIKE to see it implemented. Those are the ones who could work for it as ‘politicians’.

          AND THEN .. you go back to the people … and explain very carefully what  ‘the best minds’ think will work – and have another referendum – Yes, or No.

          Perhaps ‘the people’ are ready to listen.

          After that, you can vote for ‘parties’ who will adhere to the basic principals – and perhaps work together for that, as they work to make things better in the different ares of the country with separate problems – people represented by those they elect for that pupose.

          Could this be done in a year?

          Evolution of concepts takes MUCH longer.

        4. PROPHET.T Avatar
          PROPHET.T

          5thDrawer,
          I ‘m guilty for not stating “SIMPLE parliamentary majority” when I was talking about simple majority because that  is exactly what I had in mind.
          Speaking of a new Lebanese System of government, I think most people agree that Lebanon does indeed need a modern system of government. The last 66 years of our sectarian system has been nothing but failure, and will continue to be such.
          In an  ideal  situation, a simple majority system  derived from a one-man -one -vote would  be ideal, but I          understand the complicity of Lebanon’s  society  so well, that I’m not  ready  to call for  such  a system, although the temptation is  there.
          Having said that, I never called for a referendum and not sure one is needed. Many countries that practice democracies with a one-man –one vote system started doing so without having a referendum on whether they should so or not.
          I  don’t  claim  to  know what   system would  work  best for Lebanon, But I do insist that  our current  sectarian system must  be abolished and replaced by a civil and more  representative  system. There are  plenty of examples out there  in  the  world that  could be examined, but we should not  sit  idle when we witness the  failure and the deterioration of our  system on a daily  bases. A revolution or a movement  by the public can make a difference in pressuring  the warlords, and the  sectarian  leadership  into giving  up their  power, and allowing  for a better  system to take place. As Mr. Karam has suggested on numerous occasions, it would require a movement by the young generation of Lebanese to rise and say enough is enough. Down with sectarianism and with corrupt leaderships, yes to civil and true democratic system of government.
          As for your question of whether it  could be done  in a year, I’d  say;  building  societies and  nations take years, but  planting the seeds, and  finding  the  right  path  could take a  year  or less.

        5. Avatar
          Anonymous

          Prophet T.Perhaps best to hope that open-discussion sites like this become more widely read, that fewer reporters are beaten for reporting, and a thirst for change combined with knowledge will move the thinking of the young to some sort of revelation.
          Thanks for all your thoughts. (I really need to find a beach and listen to waves. 😉

        6. Avatar
          Anonymous

          no problems

          regardless of its flaws, the system clearly states who and how a govt is to be made up after fair election results.
          what happened when this govt was created has nothing to do with the pple rather it stressed a disregard for respecting the results of election whic in any other country is respected and regarded as the voice of the pple…but no, not in lebanon.

          what other explanation a lebanese has other then the intimidation of weapons when he sees Jumblatt changing stances on who he is nominating for PM in a matter of a couple of days after “remarkably” few “good men” with black shirts displayed their “heroism” in streets of beirut…oh but of course that’s a coincidence…or perhaps these “few good men’ who are not locals to the area and who are in contrast to this area’s community’s political affiliation, happened to be taking a leisurely walk on the streets and decided..what the heck, i want to role play a scene from the xbox game black ops on the streets of beirut!

          people in HA should not insult our intelligence…. please!

          whoever the person from the majority of the party which was chosen by fair national elections is an example..simple and clear… it exists when there is no intimidation of the use weapons in every bit of political issue. it happens in democratic societies.

          what happened in lebanon in the formation of this govt is similar to the decision taken to be taken to war in 2006, similar to the decision for may 2008 and similar to the decision taken for the resignation from the previous govt.
          if the source of these decisions in these event cannot be described as a totalitarian method…what is?  

            

        7. geo mitri Avatar
          geo mitri

          greetings prophet,

          as allways you make a good point as saddam  got 99.9 % when he ran an election. my gripe is that the whole govenment system is riddled with priorities and alterior motives,vandettas and allegiance to outside forces that grosssly disqualifies them from being fit to serve the lebanese public who is powerless and despoerately needs  somebody to take the lead to improve their quality of life. besides a few that are rough with their language on this site i think many have shown sincere out reach to one another despite their background to probably make them more qualified to run this govenrmnet in a  more promising manner and uniting .

    2. PROPHET.T Avatar
      PROPHET.T

      geometri,
      As always, it is nice to see you back, and I hope all is well with you and yours.
      You made a very  valid  point that alliances and loyalty  to outside countries and forces are a major  part  of  the  problems we are facing with  in Lebanon. This has been going on since modern Lebanon was created. One  of  the most  important  reasons Lebanese always feel they need  to seek  outside  support  or  protection  is the lack of national identity. Lebanon has no identity, instead it has 18 different identities, and they are all based on sectarian fears or “superiority”.
      National identity is the main recipe for any society to govern itself successfully, and to protect itself without the need for outside interference or support.
      All newly built  countries  were able  to  create a national identity  for  its  citizens ,who came from  different  cultures, background, and races, through a system of  government that   protected  all individuals, and treated them  equally, and required them to have  same  duties. Rule of law teach human to abide by the rules, and Lebanon never had a law and order. The so called leaders, break the law, and promote corruption on a daily bases.
      My  point  here, is that  a  new system of government  is needed ,and yes  the leaderships and warlords and clergymen we have in Lebanon  are not qualified ,nor  are they interested  in any  reform since  a  reform would  be against  every interest  they  have.

  7. george_shalhoub Avatar
    george_shalhoub

    Where is the Sheep Herder Nassrallah in this picture? I guess he does his ruthless job behind the scenes and from his own undgerground bunkers. Other than Amal and HA members in this picture that HA. The others are their slaves and they do as they’re told. I would rather resign than be part of this gov’t. This gov’t was established all of a sudden because of the surprise ruling of the STL. This cabinet only want to distort the truth and do not wish to let anyone know who killed Hariri and many martyrs who died trying to protect the freedom and integrity and dignity of Lebanon. I support all men who fought Israelis and Syrian alike. But the current leadership of HA is nothing but an extension of Iran and they’re thumbing their fingers in everyone face like it or not? they’re the real enemy of Lebanon and Nassrallah is their leader of the pack. May he rot in hell along Assad and Khakemeinis..

    1. NAGDELLA Avatar
      NAGDELLA

      Previous headline by YaLibnan:

      “Hezbollah MPs couldn’t take the heat, walk out of parliament”

    2. NAGDELLA Avatar
      NAGDELLA

      فإن حزب الله هم الغالبون

      1. antar2011 Avatar
        antar2011

        maa 7asha Allah!
        Allah is free from the actions that HA does under His Glorious name.

        nasrullah and his thugs are nothing like those who can claim they are a party of Allah…

        Allah hates betrayal, lies, hypocracy, murder and arrogance…that’s ignoring the ways HA accumulate his “funds/money”. those funds that do not come from Iran.

        these are some of the actions that Allah, the Just, the Merciful, does not like. They should quit associating themselves with what Allah commends….not only they are fooling no one but they are committing a grave sin in falsely claiming an association with Allah!

        Ta3ala 3ammaa yasifoun.

        1. geo metro Avatar
          geo metro

          may he smile upon you and your familly for acknowlaging  his great qualities,  in contrast with him  we are  impure, foolish  and capable of so much destruction to one another. sadly god has been misrepresented by so many many people. my favourite bumper sticker says   DEAR GOD PLEASE PROTECT ME FROM ALL YOUR FOLLOWERS.

      2. Hannibal Avatar
        Hannibal

        We know… we can read… It is on every piss colored flag.

  8. george_shalhoub Avatar
    george_shalhoub

    Where is the Sheep Herder Nassrallah in this picture? I guess he does his ruthless job behind the scenes and from his own undgerground bunkers. Other than Amal and HA members in this picture that HA. The others are their slaves and they do as they’re told. I would rather resign than be part of this gov’t. This gov’t was established all of a sudden because of the surprise ruling of the STL. This cabinet only want to distort the truth and do not wish to let anyone know who killed Hariri and many martyrs who died trying to protect the freedom and integrity and dignity of Lebanon. I support all men who fought Israelis and Syrian alike. But the current leadership of HA is nothing but an extension of Iran and they’re thumbing their fingers in everyone face like it or not? they’re the real enemy of Lebanon and Nassrallah is their leader of the pack. May he rot in hell along Assad and Khakemeinis..

    1. NAGDELLA Avatar
      NAGDELLA

      فإن حزب الله هم الغالبون

      1. antar2011 Avatar
        antar2011

        maa 7asha Allah!
        Allah is free from the actions that HA does under His Glorious name.

        nasrullah and his thugs are nothing like those who can claim they are a party of Allah…

        Allah hates betrayal, lies, hypocracy, murder and arrogance…that’s ignoring the ways HA accumulate his “funds/money”. those funds that do not come from Iran.

        these are some of the actions that Allah, the Just, the Merciful, does not like. They should quit associating themselves with what Allah commends….not only they are fooling no one but they are committing a grave sin in falsely claiming an association with Allah!

        Ta3ala 3ammaa yasifoun.

      2. Hannibal Avatar
        Hannibal

        We know… we can read… It is on every piss colored flag.

  9. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Where is the Sheep Herder Nassrallah in this picture? I guess he does his ruthless job behind the scenes and from his own undgerground bunkers. Other than Amal and HA members in this picture that HA. The others are their slaves and they do as they’re told. I would rather resign than be part of this gov’t. This gov’t was established all of a sudden because of the surprise ruling of the STL. This cabinet only want to distort the truth and do not wish to let anyone know who killed Hariri and many martyrs who died trying to protect the freedom and integrity and dignity of Lebanon. I support all men who fought Israelis and Syrian alike. But the current leadership of HA is nothing but an extension of Iran and they’re thumbing their fingers in everyone face like it or not? they’re the real enemy of Lebanon and Nassrallah is their leader of the pack. May he rot in hell along Assad and Khakemeinis..

    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      فإن حزب الله هم الغالبون

      1. Avatar
        Anonymous

        maa 7asha Allah!
        Allah is free from the actions that HA does under His Glorious name.

        nasrullah and his thugs are nothing like those who can claim they are a party of Allah…

        Allah hates betrayal, lies, hypocracy, murder and arrogance…that’s ignoring the ways HA accumulate his “funds/money”. those funds that do not come from Iran.

        these are some of the actions that Allah, the Just, the Merciful, does not like.

        1. geo mitri Avatar
          geo mitri

          may he smile upon you and your familly for acknowlaging  his great qualities,  in contrast with him  we are  impure, foolish  and capable of so much destruction to one another. sadly god has been misrepresented by so many many people. my favourite bumper sticker says   DEAR GOD PLEASE PROTECT ME FROM ALL YOUR FOLLOWERS.

      2. Hannibal Avatar
        Hannibal

        We known… we can read… It is on every piss colored flag.

    2. Avatar
      Anonymous

      فإن حزب الله هم الغالبون

  10. NAGDELLA Avatar
    NAGDELLA

    Previous headline by YaLibnan:

    “Hezbollah MPs couldn’t take the heat, walk out of parliament”

  11. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Previous headline by YaLibnan:

    “Hezbollah MPs couldn’t take the heat, walk out of parliament”

  12. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Previous headline by YaLibnan:

    “Hezbollah MPs couldn’t take the heat, walk out of parliament”

  13. Hannibal Avatar
    Hannibal

    Hold an election and you will be so defeated… If you dare that is. This cabinet is standing on a Persian Rug. I hope it is a magical flying rug that would fly you a one way ticket to Tehran.
    For those of you who made it on March 14 electoral votes and switched sides you betrayed your constituents. Now for you I say may you eat Syrian “baraaziq” for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sa7teyn ya khawana.

    1. PROPHET.T Avatar
      PROPHET.T

      welcome back Hannibal

    2. antar2011 Avatar
      antar2011

      khawana is a nice word for such actions.

  14. Hannibal Avatar
    Hannibal

    Hold an election and you will be so defeated… If you dare that is. This cabinet is standing on a Persian Rug. I hope it is a magical flying rug that would fly you a one way ticket to Tehran.
    For those of you who made it on March 14 electoral votes and switched sides you betrayed your constituents. Now for you I say may you eat Syrian “baraaziq” for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sa7teyn ya khawana.

    1. PROPHET.T Avatar
      PROPHET.T

      welcome back Hannibal

  15. Hannibal Avatar
    Hannibal

    Hold an election and you will be so defeated… If you dare that is. This cabinet is standing on a Persian Rug. I hope it is a magical flying rug that would fly you a one way ticket to Tehran.
    For those of you who made it on March 14 electoral votes and switched sides you betrayed your constituents. Now for you I say may you eat Syrian “baraaziq” for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sa7teyn ya khawana.

    1. PROPHET.T Avatar
      PROPHET.T

      welcome back Hannibal

    2. Avatar
      Anonymous

      khawana is a nice word for such actions.

  16. Baz Avatar
    Baz

    The people did not choose Hezbollah’s government. They chose March 14th. I say let the Syrian government fall, so the oxygen to the party that serves Iran’s government (which does not serve the Iranian people) falls.  We are tired of dictatorships whether it’s in Lebanon, Syria, or Iran.  

  17. Baz Avatar
    Baz

    The people did not choose Hezbollah’s government. They chose March 14th. I say let the Syrian government fall, so the oxygen to the party that serves Iran’s government (which does not serve the Iranian people) falls.  We are tired of dictatorships whether it’s in Lebanon, Syria, or Iran.  

  18. Basil Keilani Avatar
    Basil Keilani

    The people did not choose Hezbollah’s government. They chose March 14th. I say let the Syrian government fall, so the oxygen to the party that serves Iran’s government (which does not serve the Iranian people) falls.  We are tired of dictatorships whether it’s in Lebanon, Syria, or Iran.  

  19. Acheter de la cefadroxil en ligne sans ordonnance en Belgique Avatar
    Acheter de la cefadroxil en ligne sans ordonnance en Belgique

    When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three emails with
    the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service?
    Bless you!

  20. Fordelene ved at købe kenalogin online Avatar
    Fordelene ved at købe kenalogin online

    Aw, this was a really good post. Spending some time and actual
    effort to generate a really good article… but what can I say…
    I procrastinate a whole lot and don’t manage to get nearly anything done.

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