Minteshreen

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 Minteshreen, and represent their views.

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

Unfortunately, Minteshreen do not see that there is a "direct solution to the crisis" because, in our view, the crisis is not only a political, economic and living crisis. It is, before anything, a crisis of government and order.

• We support proposing the transitional government with exceptional powers as a mere means - and it may be the only and last means - to reach a specific goal, which is to limit the effects of the collapse, that is, to reduce the economic, financial and monetary bleeding, and to alleviate the burden of the social and living deterioration in which we live.

• Why the transitional government with exceptional powers?

  • The current system is unable to form a government and will remain powerless because it is unable to take any measure or any procedure that may affect its already dilapidated popular balance. Any future government will be at the core of its tasks taking decisions, procedures, and very difficult and harsh measures such as raising subsidies, liberalizing the exchange rate, imposing new taxes, handling layoffs from public owners etc.

  • The system is in a state of absolute powerlessness, and there is no way for it except to revive the old model of governance through our frustration and exhaustion, returning us to sectarian alignments through security incidents to consecrate regions and seam lines. All while waiting for a magical solution or miracle in the form of Spektra , Doha, the nuclear agreement, or normalization. And during this lost time each “pillar” of this system is thinking he may benefit from the loss of the other, so malice and vengeful spirits remain.

  • Fortunately and unfortunately, there do not seem to be any magic solutions looming on the horizon, and the system has not only lost its confidence internally - and it does not care about the internal - but it has also lost the confidence of the international community.

    • It will not be able to secure any money or aid except under certain conditions that it is unable to achieve, such as a criminal audit, for example.

    • Foreign governments are seriously threatening to disclose the accounts of politicians to expose them to public opinion. And if they do not, there are serious efforts in this direction from Lebanese people abroad.

    • Finally, the sword of Western sanctions has returned to the horizon from the doors of Europe.

  • Practically, the system is in an impossible situation- if it takes action it loses, and if it remains neglectful it loses. This stalemate will ultimately lead to the collapse of governance on all of us, but also on the heads of those who are in charge of it.

  • If there is an opportunity to avoid absolute collapse, then it is represented by a transitional government with exceptional powers from outside of this political system - from the prime minister to the last minister - capable of making difficult decisions leading to fair parliamentary elections that may restore power or at a minimum weaken the system’s ability to hold the handles of power.

2. How can we get there?

A transitional government with exceptional powers is not the solution - we support this proposal as a means for a specific purpose, which is to stop the economic and social collapse and limit its effects. We must remember and remind the people of the fact that this government, even if it is completely independent of the sectarian parties, will be brought by those sectarian parties. So we have to watch them closely and closely monitor their actions.

• From here, and despite the frustration and past failures, we must not forget the streets that were and will remain our only weapon in the face of the criminality of this system. This is the area we have to work to revive. We have to devise new ways to attract people towards our parties and movements of change, as well as devise new ways of protest. 

• We also have to return to the policy of one unifying demand, and perhaps the transitional government demand is a good start.

• As for the solution to our crisis, i.e. the major crisis that we talked about at the beginning of our presentation, the crisis of government and order, its solution will only be through:

  • First, accepting the idea that the solution to the problem of system and governance will not be immediate, nor in the near future

  • Second, accepting our diversity, respecting our differences, and presenting an alternative comprehensive proposal for a political, social and economic vision which  would be the nucleus of a new social contract.

  • Third, the organization within the framework and front lines to confront the power system through this proposition. And the upcoming parliamentary elections are nothing but the beginning of this confrontation and our first step that may not live up to our ambitions. Our confrontation must focus mainly on the handles of the actual power in the country. and we all know that the constitutional institutions are fake. Here is our fight and here is the real confrontation. Let us continue the cumulative work by intensifying our efforts to develop an alternative, inclusive proposition capable of restoring people's confidence in us and our cause.

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

Stopping the financial and economic meltdown by:

• Issuing of legislative decree for the Capital Control Act

• Initiating a forensic audit

• Restructuring of debt and the banking sector- allowing protection for small and medium depositors

• Breaking the monopolies, stopping smuggling, and supporting the productive economy

• Completing the negotiations with the IMF and the donor countries in a serious and transparent manner 

• Promoting social justice and create a social safety net by:

  • Distributing direct cash assistance to the poorest families

  • Providing comprehensive health insurance for all

  • Supporting formal education and developing a plan to preserve the private education sector

  • Rationalizing subsidies based on a clear strategy and transparent and realistic financial data

• Preparing for transparent and fair parliamentary elections on time through:

  • Enhancing the powers and capabilities of the election supervision body to ensure its independence from the executive authority

  • Reforming the electoral system to ensure control of media and electoral spending

• Securing the independence of the judiciary through:

  • Issuing legislative decrees to legally establish the independence of the judicial and administrative judiciary

  • Providing the necessary resources to support the investigation and ensure its independence in the Beirut Port bombing case

• Issuing legislative decrees to approve expanded administrative decentralization to ensure good governance at the local level.

4. How long would a transitional government last? What comes after it?

This government continues until the parliamentary elections in 2022 - which it naturally oversees - and ends its mission as soon as a government emerging from the new parliament is formed.