Hamadeh to Asharq Al-Awsat: Presidential Vacuum in Lebanon Will Last Months

Lebanese MPs speak prior to the start of the ninth parliamentary session to elect a new president of Lebanon, at the Parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, 08 December 2022. (EPA)
Lebanese MPs speak prior to the start of the ninth parliamentary session to elect a new president of Lebanon, at the Parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, 08 December 2022. (EPA)
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Hamadeh to Asharq Al-Awsat: Presidential Vacuum in Lebanon Will Last Months

Lebanese MPs speak prior to the start of the ninth parliamentary session to elect a new president of Lebanon, at the Parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, 08 December 2022. (EPA)
Lebanese MPs speak prior to the start of the ninth parliamentary session to elect a new president of Lebanon, at the Parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, 08 December 2022. (EPA)

It appears that the vacuum in the presidency in Lebanon will last several months given the lack of prospects for a local solution or a breakthrough in complicated regional files that will negatively impact the country.

Further aggravating the situation is the near collapse of the negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, which is an omen that the crisis in Lebanon will become tied to international developments.

Lebanon has already held ten presidential elections sessions at parliament but no candidate has come out on top. Intense contacts have been held between local political powers to reach a breakthrough but they have come up empty.

Democratic Gathering MP Marwan Hamadeh told Asharq Al-Awsat that the internal and external conditions for the election of a president are “not ripe yet.”

The so-called document of presidential principles that head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) MP Gebran Bassil is promoting is nothing more than an effort to prolong the Aounist grip on power, he said in reference to former President Michel Aoun and Bassil’s father-in-law.

Bassil is hoping to maintain the privileges that he acquired from the constitutional, judicial and military institutions during Aoun’s term, Hamadeh remarked.

Moreover, the running of several candidates is not a sign that a breakthrough is imminent, he added.

He said the various meetings between political powers, the most recent of which was the one between Bassil and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, will not lead to a breakthrough.

Instead, he noted that several pending disputes must be resolved, such as Hezbollah’s position in and ties to Lebanese society and the FPM’s relationship with other political powers.

Furthermore, there are several pressing questions that need to answered by the candidates, he went to say. “What is their position from the defense strategy that prevents Lebanon from again sliding towards civil war? Can the new president persuade Hezbollah to become part of the legitimate institutions, through political, parliamentary and social work?” he said.

“Is Hezbollah serious about stopping its violations against the state and in turn all other Lebanese segments?” he went on to say.

“This is impossible as long as Hezbollah’s decisions are taken by Tehran,” stressed the MP.

If Hezbollah does not change its approach, then the party will always use its superior strength to elect a president of its choosing and impose a prime minister and government that align with its views, added Hamadeh.

Hezbollah’s allies will retain the blocking third power in government and therefore, the paralysis at state institutions and judiciary will persist, warned the MP.

Furthermore, he said Lebanon must not rely on international efforts, especially those led by French President Emmanuel Macron, to help end the impasse.

“Macron cannot resolve the presidential vacuum by making statements or threatening to impose sanctions” against parties that are impeding the elections, continued Hamadeh.

“If major powers want to impose a solution in Lebanon, they can do so by delivering firm messages to Iran and force it to change its behavior,” he suggested.

He ruled out the possibility that they may resort to military force, saying that they may instead increase Iran’s international isolation or tighten sanctions and force it to cease its attacks on the region.

“Iran has for years been waging a war against neighboring countries similar to the war Russia is waging on Ukraine,” Hamadeh noted.

On Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi's call to hold an international conference to resolve the Lebanese crisis, the MP told Asharq Al-Awsat that the conditions to hold such a meeting are not available yet.

The fear however, lies in the possibility that a major security development may take place in Lebanon, forcing the conference to be held and Lebanese parties to attend in spite of their reservations, he warned.

He did agree with al-Rahi however, that Lebanon does need an international conference because “our country is facing a real existential threat.”

On reports that Hezbollah officials are preparing to hold meetings with Christian officials to help address differences, especially in wake of the party’s deteriorating ties with its ally, the FPM, Hamadeh said: “Hezbollah’s problem does not lie with the Christians alone, but with the majority of Lebanese society.”

“Even the vast majority of Shiites are upset with Hezbollah’s polices” that have sanctioned chaos and cross-border smuggling, most notably Captagon, he added.

There can be no sovereignty in Lebanon without reforms and without decision-making being restricted to the state and its legitimate institutions, he stressed.



UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)

One of the UN’s top humanitarian officials in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has warned that the situation will worsen if the conflict continues, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He stressed that the ongoing war is placing immense strain on both the UN and the Lebanese government, as over a million people have been displaced. He said current needs exceed $400 million, but only 12% of that amount has been raised so far.

Worsening Crisis

Riza, who is the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. He described the past two weeks as “catastrophic” for civilians, with the crisis growing over the last year.

More than 600,000 people have been displaced and over a million affected, with 300,000 crossing the border, according to Riza.

Many of these people have been displaced more than once in search of safety. Riza emphasized that the war has severely impacted civilians, with more than a quarter of Lebanon's population affected.

The UN has been working to address the crisis, but Riza said resources are limited.

He stressed that the UN has been saying all year that it doesn’t have enough funds, even when there were only 110,000 displaced people.

Last week, the UN launched a $426 million appeal for urgent humanitarian aid, with 12% of the funding already secured.

Riza said more support is expected, with donor countries pledging additional help.

He also expressed gratitude for contributions from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provided medical and relief supplies, and said the UN hopes to see more international assistance soon.

Working with the Government

The UN is working closely with the Lebanese government every day to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and water to those in need.

Cooperation with the government has been excellent, said Riza.

However, he acknowledged that the government’s capacity is weakened after five years of ongoing crises, which have also severely impacted the population.

People are less resilient than they were during the 2006 war, and the government and its institutions are weaker, affirmed Riza.

The UN is helping the government respond effectively, ensuring transparency and accountability, so that aid reaches those who need it, he added.

The UN is also collaborating with local and international NGOs that have gained experience from Lebanon’s recent crises, helping to ensure a more effective response. Shelters are also being monitored to prevent any abuse.

A Different Reality from 2006

The current situation in Lebanon is very different from the 2006 war. Politically, the country now has a caretaker government and no president, with much less international presence.

Back then, other countries were more involved, said Riza.

The 2006 war lasted only 33 days, but this conflict has dragged on for a year, he noted.

During recent visits to southern border areas, Riza said locals were asking when the war would end, as the situation has worsened significantly in the past two weeks.

Riza noted that, in the first week of the crisis, it was extremely difficult to respond, and even now, many displaced people remain without shelter.

The UN is working with the government to provide shelter, food, and healthcare, but it’s not easy, he noted.

Displacement Crisis

With winter approaching, Riza stressed the need to properly house displaced people, saying that people can’t be left without shelter.

There are also concerns over a lack of housing, clean water, and sanitation, as well as the risk of disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, Riza praised the close cooperation between the UN, international organizations, and partners.

Many agencies are responding, he asserted.

Riza rejected any claims of discrimination between displaced groups, noting that both Lebanese and Syrians are currently staying in UNRWA schools. He added that talks with the government about sheltering displaced Syrians have been positive.

Riza also expressed concern about the school year and children’s education.

Prolonged Conflict

The United Nations sees no immediate solution to the humanitarian and military crisis in Lebanon, with Riza stressing that the solution must be political and diplomatic, but first, a ceasefire is needed.

While there is little optimism for an end to the conflict, Riza said, the UN is encouraged by the support from its partners, which helps the organization assist the displaced.

He mentioned the recent evacuation of 1,000 people from Ain Ebel and aid distribution in Tyre, emphasizing the need to ensure that they reach those in need.

Riza called on all sides to respect international and humanitarian laws, allowing safe access for aid workers.

He condemned violations, including the deaths of firefighters, health workers, civil defense staff, and UN personnel, adding that the toll on civilian and health infrastructure is growing.