Lebanon marks Tuesday the 79th anniversary of Independence amid a political failure to elect a presidential and form a new government as well as an unprecedented economic crisis. It is simply a multi-leveled collapse.
Had not schools celebrated the occasion, the Lebanese would not have realized any sign of the anniversary as the public event that marks independence was absent this year. It is worth noting that parents were overburdened by the costs of the military uniforms imposed by the schools which celebrated Independence Day.
Officials issued statements that reflect the depth of the crisis plaguing Lebanon and lament the absence of the celebratory events marking the occasion. Moreover, a number of statesmen laid wreath of the tombs of the independence figures.
Caretaker PM Najb Mikati issued a statement to mark the occasion, adding: “This year’s anniversary comes with anxiety over an incomplete constitutional reality due to the vacancy of the presidency, and legitimate concern for the present and the future due to the worst multifaceted crisis our country is experiencing.”
“We all hope that the deputies will cooperate to elect a new president for the country, ushering in a new phase of recovery and advancement,” Mikati added.
Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun delivered the Order of the Day, indicating that completion of the maritime delimitation file represents a glimmer of hope for our country.
Since November 1, Lebanon has been suffering from a presidential vacuum that is expected to be prolonged amid the ongoing disagreement among the various political parties on the presidential election. Moreover, the caretaker government is unable to perform completely due to the constitutional hardships.
The economic situation in the country is also deteriorating as the Lebanese pound exchange rate against the US dollar in the black market has surpassed 40,000 L.L.
Lebanon’s central bank governor Riad Salameh announced on Monday that the official exchange rate of the Lebanese pound against the US dollar will be raised to 15,000 L.L starting from February, 2023.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
