The mass demonstrations sweeping Lebanon have hit a wall of resistance, with the political class mostly closing ranks and the Hezbollah-backed president giving no hint of major compromise.
In his first public appearance since the protests began eight days ago, President Michel Aoun suggested during a televised speech on Thursday a government reshuffle.
Sunni Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who has also ignored the street demands to quit, quickly endorsed the possibility.
It is a tactic that has been used across the Middle East in response to mass calls for change and for dignity, including during the uprisings of 2010-2011, but often to little effect.
Where the regimes or major elements associated with them have had a powerful outside sponsor, they have withstood the challenge from the masses.
In this regard, Lebanon is similar to Syria and Iraq in that Iran has shown its willingness to support its clients to the hilt.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah predicted the demonstrations would not last long and hinted at sending in his militiamen, as he did in 2008 when the Cabinet sought to dismantle the Shiite group’s private communications network.
But today a large proportion of Shiites have joined the protests, directing their wrath more towards Nabih Berri, the Speaker of Parliament since 1992 and head of the Amal movement, Hezbollah’s main Shiite ally.
This is the first time that this complete narrative of community representation is changing
Mr Aoun, 84, allied with Hezbollah in 2006 in a move that led him to the presidency 10 years later, having reversed his enmity towards Syria’s ruling Assad family.
In his speech on Thursday, he recycled old pledges to combat corruption and hold anyone convicted of misconduct accountable.
He did not mention his son-in-law, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, a defender of Hezbollah abroad, who has been groomed to become president.
Mr Bassil at one point was head of the power ministry overseeing Lebanon’s disastrous electricity infrastructure, where tens of billions of dollars have been wasted or stolen since the 1990s.
The Maronite Christian minister has been whipping sectarian sentiment among his community as part of preparations to succeed Mr Aoun. But that may no longer be an effective strategy in Lebanon.
The protests have been cross-sectarian, drawing Lebanese from all backgrounds.
“Removal of all, means the removal of all,” has been a common slogan demonstrators have chanted across the small country of 6.1 million.
Prominent Lebanese economist Ishac Diwan said the country was undergoing a revolution aimed at shaping a new national identity by “individuals who reject the system”.
Leaders in Lebanon’s current confessional system can no longer escape being identified with corruption, having benefited from the state, the private sector, and dominated the credit resources, Mr Diwan told France Culture radio.
“This is the first time that this complete narrative of community representation is changing,” he said.
Mr Aoun’s speech was derided on the street in Beirut, stoking more of the abuse he and Mr Bassil have been receiving from Lebanese from all walks of life.
But the president showed political cunning, inviting the demonstrators to meet him while knowing that they lacked a leadership.
Lebanese political commentator Youssef Bazzi said it would be difficult at this stage for Lebanon’s protest movement to put together a manifesto, partly because of the depth of anger exploding on the street.
Instead of resigning, Mr Aoun adopted a provocative stance and sought to hijack the uprising by suggesting he should be given full power to conduct a purge, Mr Bazzi said.
Mr Bazzi said the axis of Hezbollah, Amal and Mr Aoun, and the backing of Iran, would make it difficult for the protest movement to change the system fundamentally in the short term, giving Syria and Iraq as examples.
"My own conviction is that the Arab uprisings will last for decades," he told The National. "Since 2011 they have been erupting in waves. As soon as one ends, another starts."
There has been no official comment from Iran on the upheaval in Lebanon. In Syria, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intervened directly to preserve Bashar Al Assad after Hezbollah could not bear the burden alone.
With Hezbollah in such a powerful position in terms of military capability, any role Iran plays will be much less apparent.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
MATCH INFO
RB Leipzig 2 (Klostermann 24', Schick 68')
Hertha Berlin 2 (Grujic 9', Piatek 82' pen)
Man of the match Matheus Cunha (Hertha Berlin
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
