Hariri Urges Workers to 'Put an End to This Farce of a Government'

Former premier Saad Hariri on Monday called on Lebanon’s workers to “put an end to this farce and raise the voice” against the government whose members are “stealing public money.”

In a press release marking Labor Day, which Lebanon observes on May 1, Hariri said “workers are the productive class in our society and it is our duty to celebrate their day with them.”

“Unfortunately, Lebanese workers celebrate their day this year beleaguered by high prices, spoiled food, decrease in the weight of the bundle of bread, lack of security and safety, spread of banditry, environmental pollution, smell of deals concerning the power-generating ships and fuel oil, and high price of gasoline,” Hariri said in the press release.

“The gift of the current government to the workers on their day is that hospitals have stopped receiving patients covered by the National Fund for Social Security. This government that distributed Kenafa (type of Arabic sweets) to celebrate the vote of confidence a few weeks ago, has failed in all files related to living conditions,” he added.

Hariri charged that “the only success of this government was to create side battles between its components, hoping to distract the Lebanese and inundate them with illusory promises.”

The former prime minister accused government members of “exploiting their positions to improve their status in the upcoming parliamentary elections, taking financial advantages through deals, and stealing public money.”

He called on Lebanon’s workers to “put an end to this farce” and to raise their voices.

“There is nothing more difficult than working day and night without being able to secure a decent living in the presence of a government that is against the country and against labor,” Hariri added.