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Beirut: Lecturers Debate Real Meaning Of 'Lebanese Democracy'

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  • Beirut: Lecturers Debate Real Meaning Of 'Lebanese Democracy'

    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.
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