A protest by retired army personnel and public sector employees on the sidelines of the parliamentary debate on the 2026 budget, in downtown Beirut, on Jan. 29, 2026. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Was it a “rehearsal,” a warning signal, or an attempt to pave the way for the fall of Nawaf Salam’s government? That, in essence, is how the past two days on Lebanon’s political scene can be read, at times to the point of absurdity.So far, there is neither a decision nor a real capacity to bring down the government. Still, political actors appear eager to engage in one-upmanship and populism, using the state budget and the demands of civil servants and military personnel as vehicles. The aim is to send political messages shaped by electoral calculations, from under Parliament’s dome, against a backdrop of regional turmoil and deep internal divisions, foremost among them the issue of the state's monopoly on arms. Need the context? Lebanese Parliament passes 2026 budget, despite days of protests and slew of criticisms Lessons from...
Was it a “rehearsal,” a warning signal, or an attempt to pave the way for the fall of Nawaf Salam’s government? That, in essence, is how the past two days on Lebanon’s political scene can be read, at times to the point of absurdity.So far, there is neither a decision nor a real capacity to bring down the government. Still, political actors appear eager to engage in one-upmanship and populism, using the state budget and the demands of civil servants and military personnel as vehicles. The aim is to send political messages shaped by electoral calculations, from under Parliament’s dome, against a backdrop of regional turmoil and deep internal divisions, foremost among them the issue of the state's monopoly on arms. Need the context? Lebanese Parliament passes 2026 budget, despite days of protests and slew of criticisms ...
