LECTURERS DEBATE REAL MEANING OF ‘LEBANESE DEMOCRACY’
By Elias Sakr
Daily Star – Lebanon
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Lebanon
Arguments recall issues that paralyzed government
BEIRUT: The dynamics of Lebanese democracy were the focus of a series
of lectures organized by the Issam Fares Institute for Lebanon on
Tuesday. Several legislators, law professors, ministers and political
analysts participated in the lecture,which was held at the Monroe
Hotel in Ain al-Mraisseh.
During the event, titled "Lebanese Democracy: Consensus or
Competition," lecturers argued that Lebanon has successfully combined
consensus and parliamentary democracy since the Taif Accords, which
ended the 1975-1990 Civil War.
Minister of State Khaled Qabbani argued that the Lebanese parliamentary
system ensures the separation of legislative, executive and judicial
powers, and preserves citizens’ freedom of speech, guaranteeing
equality.
Qabbani emphasized that the Constitution established the rule that all
legislation was subject to approval by a parliamentary or governmental
majority.
He also pointed out that articles 9, 10, and 95 granted recognized
religious sects privileges and assurances in the political and
administrative systems. In Lebanon religious sects rule over their
own internal affairs, possessing powers which are used to resolve
conflicts in civil status courts.
All religious sects are allocated a quota in the Parliament and
representation in the government, taking into consideration that
"essential decisions" required a consensus or a two-thirds majority
vote in order to be passed.
"The Constitution’s introduction stated that no power was legitimate
if it contested the Lebanese coexistence accord," Qabbani added.
The coexistence accord guarantees the right of all religious factions
to share power and live peacefully in Lebanon.
He argued that the consociational spirit of the Lebanese Constitution
doesn’t grant the right of veto to any minority, as this would allow
them to bring the political process to a standstill. "The right of
veto means a minority dictatorship," he said.
The resignation of Shiite ministers from Amal and Hizbullah Shiite
(along with one Christian) from the Cabinet in November 2006 raised
issues regarding its legitimacy and paralyzed the government’s
decision-making power. After their withdrawal, the ministers and
their parties accused the rump Cabinet of breaking the rules of the
coexistence accord by continuing to make decisions without Shiites
in government.
The standoff ended after 18 months following the Doha agreement that
lead to the formation of a national unity government and the election
of President Michel Sueiman.
Former MP Fares Souaid stressed that "radical movements" seeking to
impose their will on other Lebanese factions threatened Lebanon’s
consensus democracy.
Souaid argued that creating harmony between citizenship, identity and
religious communities would preserve unity and democracy. "Principles
of citizenship and diversity are the pillars of a democratic Lebanese
state," he said.
MP Hagop Pakradounian said that his Armenian community had managed to
integrate into Lebanese society, and supported the state’s institutions
without giving up on their traditions, language and religion.
He stressed that the Armenian community was granted its political
rights and argued that it never participated in armed conflict. This,
he said, sets an example of a consensus democracy that preserves
the right of minorities within a parliamentary Lebanese state. "The
Armenian community always supported reconciliation efforts among
fighting factions," he added.
MP Hassan Yaacoub urged the Lebanese to preserve the country’s
religious diversity as a unique model in the Middle East that proves
that Lebanon’s consensus democracy can promote peace and dialogue
between civilizations and religions around the globe.
"The conflict in interests between the people and leaders prevents
consensus," he added.
Participants also highlighted the role of civil society in
political, economic and social reforms in order to help develop
state institutions.