– Nawal Nasr
The Lebanese, in these difficult circumstances dating back to the “days of Nuduq and Fateela,” find no support except “God” – I mean the Creator God and not “Hezbollah,” of course. They pray to Him day and night, whenever there is a sign of indifference from the officials who are supposed to support their steadfastness economically, socially, politically and security-wise. Whenever they wish for a “better tomorrow,” a decision is issued that takes them backwards, down to the lowest level. Yesterday, this February, a surprising “decision” was issued by a government that carried big promises.
Judge Nawaf Salam made the painful decision and then went back to explain his justifications, stressing that the need for $800 million prompted them to take this quick action. But were people convinced by his explanation? Of course not. The Lebanese government is experiencing a state of instability.
In the midst of these events, the labor union that was established to defend workers’ rights appears to be in “seventh sleep.” He wakes up for a while and then returns to a deep sleep. Bassam Tlais, for example, threatened: “We will move in the street if we do not reach solutions before Tuesday.” Let’s let him rest with a Valium pill until then. The Prime Minister spoke, but his words did not receive enough attention. He did not succeed in explaining the situation and justifying his government’s action, saying: “We resorted to the difficult option to save money immediately.” His words are “true” – and he explained the efforts made to strengthen the tax system, combat evasion, improve customs collection, and collect money from quarries, crushers, and… and… but people – far from populism – feel “hot.” The president, whose arrival was cheered by many, has fallen foul of popular warnings. The direct tax hit his government – as well as the country’s poor – to the core.
The Lebanese are tired, exhausted, broken and frustrated. How can they restore confidence in a government that has made it easy for them to reach into their pockets? How could the president make such a direct tax decision at this particular time? Who benefits from the loss of confidence in a government that many have waited so long for and welcomed? Prime Minister Nawaf Salam made a mistake, even if it was unintentional.
Didn’t anyone tell the president about governments that lost the people’s trust and collapsed due to the “clacking of pots”? Omar Karami – the late president – was toppled by the “revolution of the hungry” in the street in May 1992. Seven Lebanese governments were toppled in the street. Didn’t Salam think about that the day he made his decision? Maroun Al-Khouli, President of the General Federation of Lebanese Trade Unions, is one of the union figures whose voices are tired of the many warnings and threats, but today he seems as surprised as we are. What does he have to say today? He answered: “What the Nawaf Salam government did was done by no one else. The government decided without paying attention to the repercussions of its step. This is the second time it has taken such a step. The last time, the State Shura Council came back and did justice to the people against a government that exceeded its authority and canceled the increase in the fuel tax. Albert Einstein said: Stupidity is doing the same thing twice with the same method and the same steps and waiting for different results. The Nawaf Salam government repeated the mistake twice.”
Nawaf Salam made a mistake. Someone pushed him to make a mistake. There are henchmen in this deep state who are interested in making mistakes in order to reduce their resolve towards issues that worry them. There are those who decided – and succeeded – to make him fall into the maze of unpopular taxes, so that those who are with him are against him and those who are against him smile. Nawaf Salam is a man eager to achieve justice, but those in the country who are experienced in establishing injustice are stronger than him. They made it slide and they succeeded. Here, we must ask, what about his advisors? What about the circles of friends surrounding him? Didn’t they advise him?
In any case, in a quick calculation, Maroun Al-Khouli gives this equation: “The tax increase on gasoline is 21 percent. This means – contrary to all other theories – it will increase prices by thirty percent. If the minimum today is $320, this means that the government took about a hundred dollars from the citizen’s pocket. How can a citizen who moans every day have this amount withdrawn from him and remain silent?”
The Lebanese citizen is tired. They say that he moves on the “remote control” and they bet that he will not move today, but they forgot that due to the many blows he was subjected to, movement is no longer easy for him, but the fear is all of stagnant water.
The state is prestige. May our country quickly regain its prestige. Nawaf Salam spoke frankly to the Lebanese, stressing the move towards a new tax system that reduces the burden on those with limited income. He is honest in what he said, but people need steps today, not tomorrow. They eat successive hits and are told: Tomorrow is better. So, they don’t believe it anymore. The hardworking Lebanese saw their state yesterday reaching into their pockets to finance other hardworking people. This – in economics – is stupidity.
A question arises today, in light of all the “turmoil” we are experiencing: Where is the General Labor Union? Where is Bishara Al-Asmar? He met Nawaf Salam and came out to say: The reality is bad for the working class… and our position as a union rejects all the fees and taxes that have been proposed.” Durar’s words. And what if the government does not respond? He replied: “It will be built on what it requires.” A “confused” answer.
The worst thing about everything that happened recently is that it confirmed to the people – the simple people in particular – that all the change they wanted with the advent of the New Testament had not yet taken effect. The government is still “long” on them. There are those who always try to distract them to make it easier for them to pass on what they want. And what he does to them, he also repeated it with Nawaf. Don’t you remember the last live scene from the last televised budget? Have you forgotten Ali Hassan Khalil speaking on behalf of the working class of state employees, military personnel and retirees, cornering the government? Nawaf Salam was cornered and misbehaved.
People – government – are no longer able to remain calm and steadfast. Taxes are chasing them “like the winter”. A month ago, many working people received emails in which the Ministry of Finance asked them to pay fees that they had evaded fifteen years ago. how? where? Why? It doesn’t matter. The Ministry of Finance will refer them to the Financial Public Prosecution if they do not do so within days. Hardworking people usually don’t shirk. Therefore, they were afraid, so they ran to the regions’ finances and paid back the crumbs that remained with their sweat. Is this rationalization? Is this justice? O Haram, protect these people from what they do not know. Did the Minister of Finance inform the President of this?
Do the President, the Minister of Finance, and the State pay attention to the hundreds of thousands of elderly people in the country who have no breadwinner? These gentlemen, who are still in a state that says it is working on “rationalization,” are dying in their beds. These people no longer even dare to see a doctor so that he does not prescribe medicine and treatment for them. Do you impose taxes? Do you ask people to do their duties? What about your duties? We heard our honorable representatives talking about many things in the budget sessions, but we did not hear a word about those who have no one but heaven. Where do they pay? And what do they get? Remember them before they leave.
The state has rights, Your Excellency, President Judge Nawaf Salam, and it has duties. Don’t forget this. The effects of extending a hand are not easy for those who have nothing left to lose except a few million salary at the end of this month, if any.
What’s next? Did things end there? Will the file collapse in front of another approaching file?
There are those today who are penetrating the workers’ basements – not the General Labor Union, of course – to make the government retract its decision. What if you don’t? There is an almost certainty that the streets will move. The government will be surprised by unexpected moves similar to its sudden decision. One of the followers of the toilers’ files says: We do not want the fifth column to interfere in what we are going to do, so today we are taking all upcoming moves with great care. We will be active on the ground throughout Lebanon in a painful manner. Our movements will be as painful as their decisions.
Do we believe? Honestly no. Because we are aware that the deep state is still present. Less powerful, but present. Today, it wants to overthrow the government, not restore rights. Nawaf Salam made a mistake because he is clear and honest, so as not to say what one of the activists told us: a hybrid between strength and stupidity (excuse me, Mr. President). I was lured and I made a mistake. The ones who are laughing the most secretly now are the ones who want to drag you in to get you out. If you emerge unscathed from what happened, consider your next steps carefully.
