The newspaper "Al-Joumouria" reported that the Lebanese are waking up today to a warning banking strike, as banks close their doors to citizens. This follows a noticeable trend last Saturday, where banks emptied their automated machines of Lebanese pounds while keeping their stocks of "fresh dollars," attempting to exert further pressure on the Lebanese and officials ahead of a Council of Ministers session that addressed the ongoing confrontation between certain judges and the Association of Banks in Lebanon, alongside the measures that have caused widespread confusion in the banking sector. It is expected that communications will intensify today at various financial, banking, and judicial levels, awaiting the results of communications and measures to be reached by Justice Minister Henry Khoury, who has been tasked with developing a vision to address judicial conditions and identify any potential shortcomings, in addition to not specifying withdrawal limits for salaries and pensions deposited in banks.
Significant governmental sources told "Al-Joumouria" that, contrary to rumors, Prime Minister Najib Mikati did not specifically target any judge with his comments after the Council of Ministers session regarding those lagging in their duties, but rather stated that all judges should adhere to the law and apply it; those who do not comply should go home, which is a natural matter. The sources added that the Council of Ministers was fully united in its stance regarding the judicial-banking crisis during its session and that it adheres to the applicable laws in its work. It stressed the necessity for the judiciary and the judges to perform their duties and apply the Criminal Procedural Law in all its provisions. The council reaffirmed its commitments without infringing on the powers of the judicial authority. The Justice Minister himself confirmed a malfunction in the judicial process regarding pursuing banks, which could be corrected by applying the law according to its procedures, noting that the investigator is the one who orders detention and other procedures, not the Public Prosecutor. The sources indicated that the Prime Minister operates on the basis that the law is above all and there is no tent over anyone's head. If some want to dismiss the Central Bank Governor, they should take the initiative and propose alternatives for selection while not clinging to anyone in this regard.
The sources emphasized that the Prime Minister is striving with all his might and effort to put the country on the path to recovery, having relinquished his parliamentary seat and not running for elections. He is not clinging to the premiership except for the national duty he feels in addressing the serious crisis facing the country and its people. He seeks, along with the Council of Ministers and international institutions, to halt the collapse and approve the recovery plan that is pivotal for pushing the country toward solutions.
Concerning the escalating governmental-banking-judicial crisis, well-informed circles told "Al-Joumouria" that all parties involved in this crisis need to get down from the top of the tree, as the worsening impasse threatens dire consequences. The circles warned that if the judicial campaign against banks continues and if any judge decides to impose further seizures on additional banks and seal them, the banks are heading toward an indefinite strike after the two-day warning strike, which means that the dollar will rise to unprecedented levels and that employees and pensioners will not be able to receive their salaries and dues. Campaigns for elections will not be able to open banking accounts, and the fuel crisis will return with strength.
Furthermore, the circles stressed that it is essential for the judiciary to correct its course by itself and to address the dysfunction in its conduct, free from political authority's interventions or pressures. They noted that some judges should stop abusing their rights by pursuing banks too easily, and that the Public Prosecutor in Mount Lebanon, Judge Ghada Aoun, should rectify some material errors she commits, without taking the banking file away from her.
President Michel Aoun was briefed yesterday by Justice Minister Henry Khoury on the discussions held by the Council of Ministers regarding developments in the judicial situation. He expressed his satisfaction with the ministerial stance that emphasizes the importance of judicial independence and refraining from intervening in its affairs, respecting the principle of separation of powers, ensuring that the law runs its course without discrimination or selectivity, and preserving the rights of everyone, particularly the rights of depositors. He welcomed the Justice Minister’s task to create a vision for addressing judicial conditions and identifying any potential flaws in it, in addition to not setting withdrawal limits for salaries and pensions deposited in banks. Aoun considered that expediting the recovery plan and the related legislation, alongside the Parliament’s approval of the "capital control" law, are matters that necessitate quick completion for the benefit of the citizens, particularly as there is no longer any justification for delays, in addition to the approval of the law on funds transferred abroad and the commencement of the forensic audit contract.
Regarding his trip to Rome and the Vatican, Aoun left Beirut yesterday heading to Rome, where he will meet Pope Francis this morning. He will then meet with the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Secretary for Relations with States in the Vatican, Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher. Tomorrow he will meet with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella.
Upon his arrival in Rome, Aoun stated: "I carry to His Holiness the Pope a message of love on behalf of the Lebanese and a renewed invitation to visit Lebanon to restore hope for a recovery path." He confirmed that "Christianity in Lebanon is not in danger as some insist on portraying." He added: "I look forward to this visit as a glimmer of hope to confirm that Lebanon is not disappearing and will remain, despite difficulties, a model of coexistence."
Political sources tracking Aoun's visit to the Vatican identified four dimensions:
- The first dimension is enhancing communication channels with the Catholic capital before the current term ends, aiming to convince the Pope and officials that the continuity of this term serves the interests of Christians in Lebanon and the region.
- The second dimension involves trying to persuade the Pope of the necessity of visiting Lebanon, as such a visit uplifts the morale of Christians. It is known that this visit serves the term and its interests.
- The third dimension includes informing the Vatican of Aoun's role in strengthening the Christian presence, with some information hinting at a documented file prepared to show achievements to be delivered to the Holy See.
- The fourth dimension consists of gauging the Vatican's readiness to sponsor a new settlement and confirming what has been leaked about its encouragement for dialogue among Lebanese to resolve the protracted crisis.
The same circles noted an increase in the term’s interest in external channels, pointing to three models:
- The first model involves maintaining relations with Washington regarding the demarcation file, highlighting differences with "Hezbollah," and exerting all efforts to finalize the demarcation before Aoun's term ends.
- The second model pertains to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry's statement rejecting the Russian military operation in Ukraine, explicitly calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, aligning the Lebanese position with the Western stance.
- The third model relates to rejecting any aggression targeting Gulf states, whether politically from Lebanon or militarily through the Houthis, conveying a message that this term distinguishes itself from "Hezbollah" in its external role.
Aoun's visit to the Vatican has highlighted that the term aims to repair its external relations before the term ends. However, questions linger: Will it succeed in rebuilding bridges with the Western world? Is rebuilding external bridges sufficient without bridging internal divides? And will attempts to open doors to Washington through demarcation, to the Vatican through the Christian role, and to Riyadh through the French role lead to achieving the term's goal of ensuring its continuity in the presidency, i.e., securing who will succeed him?
In any case, the following circles noted a contradiction in the policy being pursued by the term: an openness and flexibility with decision-making capitals, accompanied by tension and heat in internal files. This means accumulating trust with the outside and showing full cooperation regarding relations with it, trying to imply that its continuity guarantees the successful conclusion of such files, especially the demarcation, while simultaneously creating tension internally for at least electoral mobilization and at most to cancel elections altogether.
On another note, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi in Cairo yesterday, discussing general conditions. The official spokesperson for the Egyptian presidency, Bassam Radi, noted that "Sisi affirmed to Al-Rahi Egypt's commitment to Lebanon's safety, security, stability, and achieving Lebanese national interests to spare Lebanon the dangers of regional conflicts, commending the constructive and essential role that the Cardinal plays in supporting Lebanon and restoring its stability." Al-Rahi expressed appreciation for Egypt's efforts in supporting Lebanon in all fields and as a key pillar and fundamental guarantor of stability in Lebanon and the Arab region as a whole. They also addressed the issue of "Hezbollah's" weaponry, which Al-Rahi deemed an "regional and international issue," noting that "the discussion in Lebanon was about a defensive strategy, which if adopted might have improved the situation."
Regarding the parliamentary elections, Al-Rahi affirmed before Sisi the "necessity of holding parliamentary elections on time and the need for the Lebanese to participate actively in voting and choosing those who fulfill their aspirations in Lebanon." After the meeting, Al-Rahi confirmed that Sisi "loves Lebanon and the Lebanese," thanking him for the air bridge established after the port explosion, reflecting his affection, and for opening Egypt's doors to the Lebanese and his continuous supportive positions towards Lebanon and the mediation he is undertaking with Gulf countries.
In political positions yesterday, Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem stated that "those who attack Hezbollah in the media to gain votes will fail in their endeavor, despite all the financial amounts received to support them in their fight against the party," emphasizing that "the upcoming parliamentary elections will reveal their failure in their announced goals against the party and its audience." During a celebration in the Bekaa town of Al-Khadr, he urged the Lebanese government to "search for solutions and avoid siding with capital owners," stressing the need for "the law to take its course and hasten the government's work in formulating an economic recovery plan for the country."
Additionally, the head of the "Loyalty to the Resistance" bloc, MP Mohammad Ra'ad, during a celebration organized by Hezbollah in the southern town of Roumine, stated that "America aims to provoke the resistance to instill despair and doubt in people's minds, as a revenge against Israel for its defeat to the resistance." He said: "The American is waging a war against us economically to take advantage of people's hunger, stirring things up for the election deadlines and pushing for the election of those whom America wants, under the slogan 'No to weapons and no to Iranian occupation'; everyone knows there is no Iranian occupation in the country, but the issue is the Iranian support for the resistance." He added, "This country cannot be revived by one team alone. We say this while being confident that we will return to the parliamentary council as we were or more. We cannot rise with the country alone; we need to collaborate with others but with sincerity in citizenship and without stabbing each other in the back. We must maintain solidarity on our internal front, confront our opponents in the elections, whether they are misled, brokers, traders, or mercenaries. These do not wish for the country's interest. We are neither angels nor infallible, but our choice is correct, and we pursue it. If errors occur along this path, they can be corrected, but if the opposite happens, correcting them becomes challenging."
Commenting on this, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea highlighted during a "Lebanese Forces" dinner that "the 2022 elections are not just ordinary elections but a pivotal battle. The goal is not to win a deputy or two, as our country is under the seventh ground in every sense of the word, sinking deeper every day, while its officials have taken no step in the desired direction to alleviate its repercussions since the crisis began two years ago. Every step taken has only served to worsen the country’s condition, as if they were on another planet." He stated, "The upcoming electoral event on May 15 is not just a matter of electing local deputies; it is a step to vote for ourselves and choose between remaining in an unending hell by voting for the ruling clique or turning to those who can save the country." He added: "Staying in hell means voting for this clique again, with its essence being 'Hezbollah' and 'Free Patriotic Movement,' and anyone connected to them; if they are re-elected in any form, it means you've signed your own death warrant and the assassination of your country for eternity."
Metropolitan Elias Aoude, during his presidency of the Divine Liturgy in St. George Cathedral, stated that "just as life in the church needs four to save humanity, our country needs four to rescue the people from the deadly abyss it has led them to, guiding them to the harbor of salvation." He emphasized, "Firstly, our people need respect for laws and their application without selectivity, as well as establishing true justice in all matters, from the smallest to the largest. For justice to prevail, the country needs an honest, independent judiciary that operates impartially according to the laws, away from politics and its evils. Secondly, the people also need to hold accountable anyone who harms the country or disrupts its course; the accountability of the people should be through withholding confidence, at election time, from those who have not adequately represented them and by demanding their rights through legislative laws to be applied to all and to impose the authority of the state. Accountability should also come from the deputies who revoke their confidence from ministers who falter or neglect their duties or exploit power for personal interests or to settle accounts. Thirdly, our country needs effective institutions aimed at serving citizens and facilitating their life according to the laws, so that official transactions can be completed quickly, queues disappear, and respect for the citizen, whoever they may be, prevails, eliminating favoritism, connections, deals, and the waste of public funds. To achieve all of this, there is an urgent need for the fourth and essential pillar: fair and transparent elections. This way, all sectors will be organized, and life will return to the flag of our country."
On another note, simultaneous with the return of some lines to fuel stations yesterday due to leaks about companies not delivering this material to the stations, Energy Minister Walid Fayad, while in Qatar attending an energy conference, reassured that there is no fuel crisis today and that stations will open their doors due to a series of communications he had with the Prime Minister, oil importing companies, and the stations’ union, with the issue resolved for the companies to commit to delivering goods to the stations, and consequently to citizens.
