By Lynn Bou Daher | Staff Writer
“Lebanon has been on the brink of financial collapse for a couple of years now.”- Lynn Beyrouthy, a social activist.
Two years ago, Lebanon witnessed one of its greatest protests to date with over a million individuals flooding the streets around the country. The general assumption is that state corruption is deeply embedded in the government and is inescapable. However, in October 2019, the public took to the streets to express their dissent and attempted an escape for Lebanon out of the state and sect monopolized system. In 2021, it is inevitable to ask: what has come of this escape plan?
The Lebanese people have been enduring years of difficult circumstances regarding electricity, water and transportation and overall lack of basic public services. The trigger for the October revolution was the decision of the former minister of telecommunications, Mohammad Choucair, to tax whatsapp calls. The whatsapp tax drove out the bottled up anger in the public as the tax was being placed on one of the most daily used and essential tools in Lebanon. People began the protests demanding better public services and state policies regarding food, shelter, education, employment and health. They united for love, safety and peace while pushing all their differences away. To be able to achieve these basic needs, they requested that the government at the time retire.
The start of the revolution aimed to reimagine a new and better Lebanon. Nevertheless, two years after the excitement and nationalism of October, the country is facing the most serious civil war threats since 1990. At moments like these, we question the impact of the revolution or the capacity of revolution itself. Has the public diverged from the original goal of reclaiming Lebanon from corrupt politicians and is in survival mode, or is this part of the road to freedom?
The October revolution was not a gradual one – the numbers in the streets increased dramatically and, day after day, the impact spread across the country. People from different ages, religions and areas were uniting against the same political system. Although the impact seemed positive as everyone united for the first time against the political party, there was chaos. Protests turned violent, individuals became politicized and conditions under which to protest became increasingly intense and infeasible.
Even what was regarded as achievements at the time, namely the resignation of former prime minister Saad El Hariri, has been reversed over the past two years. To this day, there has been no proper government formation, considering the different PMs in office over the past 2 years including Hassan Diab, Mustafa Adib, Saad Hariri again and most recently Najib Mikati. Two years later, it appears that October 2019 was a false rock bottom of Lebanon. In fact, October 2021 showed a Lebanon at rock bottom with no electricity, almost non-existent health care, an uncontrolled pandemic, a fuel crisis, and a tremendous increase in people living under the poverty line.
To add to the challenges, the Lebanese currency lost almost 90% of its value and since the collapse of the banking system and dollar crisis thousands are still unable to access their life savings from banks. Hence, with the deteriorating economic situation and collapsing health sector, the hope that was implanted in the hearts of the Lebanese is now replaced with the constant fear of tomorrow.