The Civil Defense rescue people stuck in their cars after heavy rains on Nov. 3, 2022. (Credit: Civil Defense/Twitter)
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Several Lebanese MPs on Friday condemned the violence that erupted between members of the Free Patriotic Movement, known as "The Old Guard," and the audience of local channel MTV's "Sar al-Waet," or "It’s About Time," talk show on Thursday, where a fight erupted in the studio and gunshots were fired outside, injuring several people. It is not clear yet what sparked the clash. "The Old Guard" claims itself to be an independent group that functions within the constants set by the former president, and cites its members to be from “the Aoun Generation.” According to a statement by MTV, whose studios are in Naqqache, Mount Lebanon, FPM members "deliberately" started smacking the audience "using hands." "The clash moved from inside the studio to the outer courtyard and the entrance to MTV where shootings took place and screens and external facades were destroyed, and a number of people were wounded." MTV added that FPM supporters also chanted "God, Lebanon, and only Aoun." An FPM supporter accused in a recorded statement that MTV's security was the one to start the clash calling the incident a “deliberate attack," and adding that the channel's security were the ones who fired the gunshots. "The Old Guard" also released a statement holding MTV's management the full responsibility "for transforming a media platform that is supposed to be a space for dialogue, into a platform for assault and beating," threatening that if "this farce" doesn't stop immediately, "we will take urgent action, on the ground and legally."
Parliament will reconvene for a fifth election session next Thursday after yesterday’s session renewed confidence in the caretaker cabinet of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, of which former President Michel Aoun had requested its resignation. Aoun’s term ended Monday after four failed attempts by Parliament to elect his successor, resulting in a total executive power vacuum. Lebanon’s government, according to constitutional procedures, resigned at the outcome of the May parliamentary elections. Shortly after, Parliament elected Mikati as caretaker to lead Lebanon’s next cabinet. Political disagreements, however, have stalled the selection of the next ministerial roster. The resignation request was Aoun’s last move in a series of attempts to block the transfer of presidential powers to a caretaker cabinet. Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan after yesterday’s meeting suggested that a successful presidential election is the ideal solution. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri hoped that consensus on a candidate would emerge within the week while no common ground has been established among MPs throughout the two-month constitutional election period.
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing allies secured a clear victory and a majority in Parliament following elections two days ago, Israel's electoral commission announced Thursday. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu on his election win, as final results confirmed the former premier's comeback at the head of a solidly right-wing alliance. Tuesday's ballot saw out the centrist Lapid, and his rare alliance of conservatives, liberals and Arab politicians which, over 18 months in power, made diplomatic inroads with Turkey and Lebanon. Lapid's concession sets the former premier up to form what may be the most right-wing government in Israeli history, while also spelling the end of an unprecedented period of political deadlock. Lapid’s party is the second-largest in Parliament, followed by the far-right Religious Zionism party, headed by far-right Bezalel Smotrich and illegal settler Itamar Ben-Gvir, who on Oct. 13, drew his gun in a Palestinian neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem and encouraged his supporters to shoot Palestinians, all on camera. As for Netanyahu, he is currently on trial on corruption charges, of which he denies.
The Constitutional Council rejected four new appeals contesting the May parliamentary election results, leaving only six out of 15 appeals still pending. The appeals challenged the victories of MPs Cynthia Zarazir, Faysal al-Sayegh, Waddah Sadek, Farid el-Khazen and Saeed Asmar. The council announced the rejection of five other appeals on Oct. 20. A Constitutional Council source previously told L’Orient Today that rulings would be expedited to ensure the validity of presidential election results. The acceptance of the appeals could tip the balance against independent MPs and favor the formation of a new majority that is inclined to elect a president who is close to the ruling class. György Hölvényi, Chief Observer in the European Union Election Observation Mission monitoring the legislative elections, deemed the election valid, despite the mission’s report documenting rampant “vote buying and clientelism.”
Solid waste collection company Ramco, in response to criticisms from caretaker Public Works Minister Ali Hamieh, denied responsibility for street flooding earlier this week. Flooding on the Ghazir coastal road and the Jounieh highway endangered two citizens who had to be rescued from their cars on Wednesday. Hamieh posted a video of a flooded road along with criticism of garbage collection companies, blaming the flooding on garbage obstructing rain sewer drains. Ramco retorted that the flooding was the result of years of unresolved infrastructure issues. On Oct. 24, intense rainfall severely flooded large swathes of Lebanon's coastal areas, leading to the death of an elderly man with a disability.
A report by the Samir Kassir Foundation's SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom recorded over 800 violations during former President Michel Aoun’s six-year term. “The use of systematic repressive methods has been established by the political power in collaboration with the security services and prosecutors in order to silence critics,” the SKeyes report wrote. Six times as many individuals were charged for insulting the president under Aoun than his predecessor. Abuses documented by SKeyes include assassinations, armed attacks on media properties, attacks on journalists and activists by official and unofficial parties, summonses for interrogation, threats and intimidation, official or unofficial censorship of cultural works and activities, blocking of electronic content, prison sentences, trials by non-competent courts — such as the military court — as well as arrest and detention.
In case you missed it, here's our must-read story from yesterday: “In Saifi, another attempt to unify parliamentary opposition around a presidential candidate.”
Compiled by Abbas Mahfouz