Beirut Madinati

Sawti sent the same questions to each alternative party to better understand their current views on a transitional government.

The responses here were provided by Beirut Madinati, and represent their views.

1. Is your party in favor of a transitional government with extraordinary powers? Why or why not?

Since the beginning of the October 17 revolution, Beirut Madinati has formulated a road map centered around 4 basic points that can be adopted to get out of the crisis:

1. Resignation of the government

2. Forming an independent government with specific exceptional legislative powers

3. Devoting accounting and retrieving the stolen money

4. Early parliamentary elections

   Several groups adopted these points, and the first goal was achieved. Today, despite the difficulties that exist, we demand an independent government. There are big differences between obstructing the formation of a government and imposing a government.

   An alternative must be proposed in light of the miserable state of affairs - from an unprecedented financial and economic collapse, to the health crisis, the explosion of the port, the deterioration of the exchange rate, and the spread of hunger and poverty. The only solution to improve the situation is through an independent transitional government that responds to the needs of the people in a direct manner. Talking about a radical change today in what people suffer from extreme hunger and their inability to obtain food is a proposal far from the reality and concerns of people. 

   Therefore, we need to form this transitional government as soon as possible without waiting for the parliamentary elections that will be supervised by the ruling authority, which we do not trust. For us, this existing sectarian system bears the full responsibility for its retreat, and in front of every crisis it proves its utter failure and its inability to manage the country. They are only interested in securing their political position at the expense of the nation’s survival. Next, we, as a group, must continue to present what is required to stop the collapse of the country and to confront the regime that will fight and wage a battle for survival, whose cost will be high.

   Why is a transitional government the priority today?

   • Because the people are threatened with their food safety and because $ 27 billion was smuggled out after the banking crisis, which could have covered about 90% of the depositors ’money and avoided the collapse of the banking sector. And because the transitional government, with legislative powers, responds to the slogans of the revolution and puts the country on the path of change without excluding anyone, and because it is the inclusive constitutional path for all the Lebanese.

2. How can we get there?

Today, the Lebanese people have demonstrated their awareness and ability to see the reality of the criminal sectarian system as an occupying power that wants to kill us and confiscate the will of the people.

At the same time, the people have reached a stage of fatigue and despair, and therefore we must work and continue our political plan and form a popular civil resistance that can bring down the system through a comprehensive speech- through which we invite the supporters of the system’s parties to join the ranks of the revolution, because our pain is one, our poverty is one, and our security is one and only we can unite us. Building a democratic, civil and fair citizen-focused state.

3. Practically speaking, what are such a government's immediate priorities?

There is no solution to curb the bleeding, improve the situation and the continuing deterioration of the currency, except through a reform financial plan that limits waste and rampant corruption in all respects. In fact, the current ruling class is unable to adopt a just and comprehensive plan. As the dollar exchange rate reached 15,000 because of them.

The financial plan will ensure a fair distribution of losses and will approve the criminal audit and the Capital Control Law, which will prevent the use of the remaining depositors' funds, and the support will be rationalized in a way that allows it to continue for the poor class that bears the greatest burden.

People today are hungry, and the government's priorities are a social protection plan to establish a sustainable social protection system that guarantees people their basic rights, starting with health coverage that includes all people, in addition to social coverage.

Secondly, a comprehensive economic plan must be presented that includes the implementation of the reforms required to restore confidence internally and externally, especially that 80% of the Lebanese will be below the poverty line by the end of 2021.

We want the transitional government to adopt the Law on the Independence of the Judiciary in order to hold accountable the criminals responsible for the Beirut bombing, who have not been held accountable 9 months after the crime; to investigate the funds transferred from 2018 until today, and the fantastic profits from financial engineering; and work to recover it after a criminal financial audit.

We want a government capable of running transparent and fair elections through an independent body that manages and supervises the electoral process at a time when militias and parties are allied to steal the people's vote. Therefore, the civil state is the solution.