Lebanon’s premier Hassan Diab stepped down Monday amid fury within and outside his government over the deadly Beirut port blast he blamed on the incompetence and corruption of a decades-old ruling class.

“Today we are heeding the people and their demands to hold accountable those responsible for a disaster that has been concealed for seven years” he said in a televised address, blaming a “corrupt” political elite for the August 4 explosion.

“This is why today I announce the resignation of the government.”

Politics in multi-confessional Lebanon is dominated by former warlords from the 1975-1990 civil war who have exchanged their military fatigues for suits, or were replaced by relatives.

“Their corruption created this tragedy,” said Diab.

“Between us and change stands a thick wall protected by their dirty tactics,” he added.

Diab, who was named in December, is the second Lebanese premier to step down in 10 months.

His government, formed in January to tackle a spiralling economic crisis, has come under all-out attack since a port blast killed 160 people, wounded 6,000 others and ravaged swathes of Beirut.

Authorities say the explosion was triggered by a fire in a port warehouse where tonnes of volatile ammonium nitrate, a compound used primarily as a fertiliser, was left unsecured for years.


Many Lebanese want heads to roll over the tragedy they see as shocking proof of the rot at the core of their political system.

Before Diab’s announcement, four ministers had already decided they could no longer serve a government that had shown little willingness to take the blame or to put state resources at the service of the victims.

At least nine lawmakers have also announced they would quit in protest, as have two senior members of the Beirut municipality.

The August 4 explosion came as Lebanon was already reeling from an economic crisis that has seen its currency collapse, plunging swathes of its population into poverty, and struggling with a spike in coronavirus cases.

https://punchng.com/breaking-lebanons-government-resigns-over-beirut-blast/

Lalasticlala

This is a country were rule of law and human right is adhere to. Unlike Nigeria, where the political leader (president or governor) will be boasting that there have technically defeated boko haram or bandits. Whereas, there is nothing on ground to show such claimed. Mtcheew.

Leaders with conscience

Smart political move


How will they deal with, economic crisis, covid 19 massive outbreak and now massive infrastructural deficit from the current disaster

In Nigeria, the APC will blame PDP by stating that it started when PDP held the presidency, while PDP will ask APC government officials to resign for incompetence. Nobody apologizes to the people nor takes responsibility. Expecting anyone to resign here is like waiting for a ship to arrive at the airport

Mo3891:
Smart political move


How will they deal with, economic crisis, covid 19 massive outbreak and now massive infrastructural deficit from the current disaster

Are you not suffering all that you mentioned and even more, dont you support them here like your life depends on it...

Mission accomplished.

The sole reason for the bombing.

He should have stepped down when higher powers told him to do so initially.

Esseite:


Are you not suffering all that you mentioned and even more, dont you support them here like your life depends on it...

Says a Poverty Development Party PDP online supporter

OVB123:
This is a country were rule of law and human right is adhere to. Unlike Nigeria, where the political leader (president or governor) will be boasting that there have technically defeated boko haram or bandits. Whereas, there is nothing on ground to show such claimed. Mtcheew.

Nigerian politician resign cause of ordinary last,day na story for the gods dem go set up committee 2 look into the matter then approve 20billion for logistics

9ja comes 2 mind

CapitalHYC:
Lebanon’s premier Hassan Diab stepped down Monday amid fury within and outside his government over the deadly Beirut port blast he blamed on the incompetence and corruption of a decades-old ruling class.

“Today we are heeding the people and their demands to hold accountable those responsible for a disaster that has been concealed for seven years” he said in a televised address, blaming a “corrupt” political elite for the August 4 explosion.

“This is why today I announce the resignation of the government.”

Politics in multi-confessional Lebanon is dominated by former warlords from the 1975-1990 civil war who have exchanged their military fatigues for suits, or were replaced by relatives.

“Their corruption created this tragedy,” said Diab.

“Between us and change stands a thick wall protected by their dirty tactics,” he added.

Diab, who was named in December, is the second Lebanese premier to step down in 10 months.

His government, formed in January to tackle a spiralling economic crisis, has come under all-out attack since a port blast killed 160 people, wounded 6,000 others and ravaged swathes of Beirut.

Authorities say the explosion was triggered by a fire in a port warehouse where tonnes of volatile ammonium nitrate, a compound used primarily as a fertiliser, was left unsecured for years.


Many Lebanese want heads to roll over the tragedy they see as shocking proof of the rot at the core of their political system.

Before Diab’s announcement, four ministers had already decided they could no longer serve a government that had shown little willingness to take the blame or to put state resources at the service of the victims.

At least nine lawmakers have also announced they would quit in protest, as have two senior members of the Beirut municipality.

The August 4 explosion came as Lebanon was already reeling from an economic crisis that has seen its currency collapse, plunging swathes of its population into poverty, and struggling with a spike in coronavirus cases.

https://punchng.com/breaking-lebanons-government-resigns-over-beirut-blast/

Lalasticlala

Tunde835:
9ja comes 2 mind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbn9D5gXbfI

The is the second time that Lebanese protests (i.e. October Revolution and this recent one) have brought in a change of government, where elected and constituted authority(ies) relinquished power(s), but the shameless Presidency spokesman Femi Adesina will come out and call the recently held "Revolution Now", an irritant, noise et cetera, saying and insisting that the protests were nothing but irritation, child's play, a sprinkle of people trying to be funny et cetera

The day baboon go leave home for market but never return, then he'll know it wasn't and/or isn't funny anymore. KMT Tufiakwa!

Soulsymbol99:



Nigerian politician resign cause of ordinary last,day na story for the gods dem go set up committee 2 look into the matter then approve 20billion for logistics

On point my brother.

commendable but changes nothing..
how many times have this changes occurred in Lebanon but nothing changes

Something is fundamentally wrong with Nigeria and most African countries. Resignation is the best approach any leader needs whenever the masses don't want him/her again. But here, they cling to power like it was glued them from birth.