Lebanon is increasingly slipping towards total collapse and extinction. This is occurring under the watchful eye of a paralyzed government that is incapable of taking action, and amidst a political class preoccupied with internal conflicts and expanding the circle of confrontation amongst themselves, attempting to explore every possible avenue for a presidential resolution. The only constant in the presidential picture is its stagnation within a square of obstruction, leading to a lack of serious movement thus far. Furthermore, no viable internal political entity has emerged to lead movement in this direction amid the ongoing presidential crisis. Discussions about initiatives to break through the deadlock are merely limited media attempts, approaching the closed file with the hope that political parties will choose the fast track towards electing a president, while these parties entrenched behind their contradictions utterly reject any path leading to election, whether by consensus or otherwise.
Member of the Strong Republic Bloc, MP Razi Al-Haj, tells "Al-Markaziah" that Lebanon is increasingly sliding towards complete collapse. The vacuum that began with the presidency has since extended to the parliamentary council, which has proven unable to fill the vacancy in the presidency due to the deep divisions among its political and parliamentary components. This vacuum has subsequently affected the government, whose meetings violate the constitution and deepen the political and sectarian rift in the country. It appears that this rift is beginning to impact the judicial body, which is relied upon to uphold justice and hold accountable those responsible for the catastrophe that has befallen the nation. It seems that a hidden hand is steering matters towards further collapse, leading to current fears that the military institution—the last remaining entity ensuring civil peace—might also be affected.
Regarding this hidden hand, he states: "By nature, I do not believe in conspiracy theories, and I think if we as deputies had proceeded to elect a president in the allotted time, many of the problems arising from the vacuum could have been avoided. Additionally, if the judiciary had fulfilled its duties, we would not have reached this predicament we are entangled in." He concludes: "The absence of accountability in the face of a governing system that has controlled the state and its institutions for over two decades is what has rolled the situation into this abyss, from which there is no recovery except by returning to the constitution, implementing it, and applying the laws to everyone without exception."
