Mustaqbal Rejects 'Coup-like Pressure' for Any Minister's Resignation

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday slammed the storming of the Environment Ministry building by “You Stink” activists as a “dangerous coup-like method,” warning that such tactics serve the interests of “those who are seeking chaos in Lebanon.”

“In principle, peaceful protest highlights the vigor of the Lebanese people, who had revolted in March 2005 against tyranny and hegemony … Therefore, the return of the Lebanese to peaceful protest underscores their patriotism and adherence to the peaceful, democratic and civil heritage,” said the bloc in a statement issued after its weekly meeting, in reference to Saturday's mass rally in downtown Beirut.

“Real peaceful and democratic change is a legitimate right related to freedom of expression … and it should not descend to violence in the streets or stirring chaos through groups of infiltrators whose only objectives are destruction and sabotage,” Mustaqbal warned.

It cautioned that “storming the Environment Ministry or any other state institution serves the interests of those seeking chaos in Lebanon, not those of the peaceful protest movement.”

Mustaqbal also stressed the need for the current government to “continue performing its missions,” warning against “its fall or resignation amid the presidential vacuum.”

“In this regard, the bloc also rejects pressure for the resignation of any minister or official in this dangerous coup-like method which was tried today,” it added.

Proposing solutions, Mustaqbal reiterated its call for “the immediate election of a president and consequently the formation of a new government that addresses all the national, political, economic and social issues, including the drafting of a new electoral law.”

Earlier in the day, protesters from the You Stink movement and other groups occupied part of the environment ministry in downtown Beirut, in an escalation of a campaign against the country's trash crisis and a stagnant political class.

In the evening, riot police forcibly removed the protesters from the building after a several-hour standoff, which left several activists injured.

The activists said they stormed the ministry building to push for the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammed al-Mashnouq, who is close to Mustaqbal, over his failure to resolve the country's waste crisis.

But al-Mashnouq refused to resign, telling TV stations: “I am carrying out my duties.”

During its last protest in downtown Beirut on Saturday, “You Stink” issued a 72-hour ultimatum for the authorities to meet their demands, including the resignation of the environment minister, holding Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq accountable for police violence in previous demonstrations, and releasing funds for municipalities to begin their own garbage management programs.

In longer term goals, the activist group called for new parliamentary elections and the election of a president to fill a post that has been vacant since May last year due to political squabbling.

The waste crisis erupted after the closure of the Naameh landfill that lies south of Beirut on July 17.

Y.R.