Derbas Pessimistic over Lingering Crises: Vacuum Shattering Lebanon
Minister of Social Affairs Rashid Derbas expressed pessimism on Sunday over the crises gripping the country, pointing out that the repercussions of the prolonged presidential vacuum began surfacing.
“Sickness symptoms are breaking the Lebanese body... holes began appearing in the ship, which indicates its sinking due to the nearly one year presidential vacuum,” Derbas said in comments published in the Kuwaiti al-Seyassah newspaper.
He wondered what politicians could do “if the people became mere spectators and are failing to act,” warning from granting “the other team its demands.”
“This could lead to the destruction of the country.”
Derbas voiced regret over the situation in Lebanon, saying: “altering local dilemmas is awaiting foreign developments.”
Asked if the recent developments will impact the cabinet's solidarity, Derbas hailed the efforts exerted by Prime Minister Tammam Salam to safeguard his government.
“The PM's ability to govern away from the political rift is sustaining the cabinet's tenure,” the minister said.
Vacuum striking the presidential post is having a tough impact on the cabinet and the parliament as the state is threatened with further crises over ongoing rows between the political arch-foes.
Lebanon has been without a head state since May last year when the term of President Michel Suleiman ended without the election of his successor. Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps have thwarted the elections.
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Friday questioned the need for what he described as an ineffective government. He rejects the extension of the terms of high-ranking security officials, threatening to press the resignation of the ministers representing him in the cabinet.
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