THE TUNISIAN and Egyptian uprisings have inspired young Lebanese to revive the campaign against the sectarian power-sharing arrangement bequeathed to their country by France, the former colonial master.
Under this deal, the president has always been a Maronite Catholic on the premise that Maronites constituted the largest community, the premier a Sunni Muslim and the parliamentary speaker a Shia. Today Maronites could comprise 18 per cent of the population, Sunnis 20 and Shias 30. There has been no census since 1932.
Lebanese abolitionists argue the sectarian system produces nepotism, corruption, a lack of civic responsibility, inadequate public services, poverty and communal conflict. Lebanon has suffered two civil wars (1958 and 1975-90) and countless sectarian clashes. Politicians and prominent figures have been assassinated.
The abolitionists have set up tents across from the interior ministry in Beirut and put up a banner proclaiming “Down with the sectarian system”. They have a website and claim that 25,000 take part in internet exchanges. Demonstrations have been staged in Beirut, the northern city of Tripoli and the southern port of Sidon. A rally is scheduled for Sunday in Beirut, where on April 13th, the 36th anniversary of the start of the second civil war, there is to be a candlelit vigil.
Lebanon is a democracy of sorts. It holds elections for parliament, political campaigns are vigorous, and the press is free. But the same families have been in power for a century and key personalities in office for decades. After the civil war, the prime minister was given more authority, parliament was divided equally between Christians and Muslims, and Shias, who had been ruled by feudal figures, have become more assertive due to the rise of the Amal and Hizboullah movements.
These influential Shia organisations support the abolitionists. “The Shias are the largest community, so they are in a strong position whatever the system,” said an analyst. The sectarian system has adapted to developments and even strengthened its grip on political life due to the deepening of confessional distinctions and divisions. Today politicians, who have built up layers of interests under the sectarian system, exploit confessional identities and anxieties to secure office. Their clients benefit. No one serves state or people.
Pollster and researcher Abdo Saad said Lebanon’s system of governance is unstable because it depends on sectarian consensus in a country where political personalities are in constant conflict. In his view, Lebanon must adopt a system which would provide for the direct election of the president and the election of parliament by proportional representation.
“This would ensure that all sects and communities would participate.” Egypt, with a “strong civil society since the 19th century” could become a democracy in 10 years. Morocco could also achieve this goal. But “multicultural, multiconfessional Lebanon, Syria and Jordan will find this more difficult . . . Lebanon will be the last country in the Arab world to become democratic.”