Lebanese political officials slammed for ‘moral crisis and the love of power’ during Eid sermons
Beirut: Political officials in Lebanon’s ruling class came under fire on Saturday for suffering from a “moral crisis and love for power” as the country celebrated Eid al-Adha.
The authorities apologized for not receiving well-wishers on the holy occasion “due to the circumstances in Lebanon”.
Sheikh Amin al-Kurdi, secretary of Dar al-Fatwa, condemned him during his Eid sermon.
“Dignified, self-respecting people will not break down in the face of your corruption, theft and complicated ills. You wasted their money and resources,” he said in front of hundreds of worshipers at the Al-Amin Mosque in the center of Beirut. “There is no electricity, no water, no medicine, no bread. Everything is obscenely expensive, and life has become difficult and compelling.
“People will remain, but the dark pages of history will curse you from generation to generation,” said al-Kurdi, who led the Eid prayers instead of Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian.
Grand Mufti is in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.
Al-Kurdi said the Lebanese authorities were suffering from a “moral crisis and love for power”.
In his sermon, he asked: “Where is the trial of the killers of the martyred Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri after the decision of the International Tribunal? Where is the investigation into the Beirut port blast? Where is the financial rights of those lost in banks? Water, electricity, Where is the medicine, food and fuel? Where is the sense of security and peace? When the captain of the ship is upset, all the passengers will feel unsafe.”
Lebanon entered the holiday phase on the Saturday ending the following Tuesday. Political activities were halted to form a new government, and work on controversial matters was suspended.
Prime Minister nominee Najib Mikati has not visited President Michel Aoun during the past few weeks to continue consultations on the draft cabinet lineup, and Aoun has not yet responded to Mikati’s proposed draft cabinet.
Tension has arisen between the two people regarding the process of government formation.
Aun congratulated the people of Lebanon on Eid al-Adha on his official Twitter account, expressing the hope that “some people will sacrifice their interests and selfishness for the benefit of the country.”
Mikati issued a statement wishing the people of Lebanon a happy holiday, while also mentioning that he had prepared a cabinet lineup and submitted it to Aun.
“Together we discussed its contents and he made some remarks, hopefully we will resume discussions on the basis of the cooperation and respect that we have during the previous period.”
The Grand Mufti sent a message from Mecca to Lebanon, stating that the solution to the problems “only consists of expediting the process of government formation and a commitment to the Constitution to meet the dangerous internal and external challenges seen by Lebanon”. “
“Those who create obstacles, hindrances and contradictory conditions in the formation of the government are responsible for the decline and fall of the country,” he said. “Some Lebanese officials are in coma, probably suffering from deficiencies, and do not fulfill their national responsibilities to protect the state and its institutions.”
Activity was muted on the first day of Eid, especially in slaughterhouses due to rising animal prices.
The cost of one sacrifice is up to LBP6 million ($204 at the black market rate). One butcher said the amount was equivalent to “two months’ salary of a first-class employee”.
The bread crisis is yet to be resolved, with bakeries seeing long queues of people, waiting to get a bundle, which is now subject to equal rations of electricity, water and medicine.
At a news conference on Friday, Acting Economy Minister Amin Salam spoke about “mafias affecting food security”.
He said: “We imported 45,000 tonnes of wheat, knowing that we needed 36,000 tonnes for pita bread, which meant there was over 10,000 tonnes. But these mafia stole that quantity, and I had security. There are reports from the authorities that include the names of smugglers, traders, bakeries and mills. However, those arrested appear to have signed a pledge not to repeat their actions and have been discharged. What is it? Bread smuggling to Syria reaches almost 40 percent. Billions of dollars are being spent on Lebanese wheat subsidies due to smuggling.
He spoke about the “professionalism in trafficking and the advanced methods adopted” at the press conference.
The minister said that Lebanon would seek assistance from the World Bank to secure an additional safety net.
“We asked the World Bank for a loan, not to continue the subsidy, but to secure the arrival of wheat in the country and to rationalize the subsidy so that sections of the society are not affected by high prices because, as a government Well, we can’t keep getting subsidies.”
Salam said the World Bank program would rationalize subsidies for six to nine months.