Maronite Bishops Call for Balanced Participation of Sects in State Posts
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The council of Maronite bishops called on Wednesday for a balanced participation of all sects in state institutions after several officials complained about the alleged exclusion of Christians from key posts.
“Officials should preserve the participation of sects in civil service in a balanced way to guarantee the stability of the system,” the bishops said in a statement following their monthly meeting under Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki.
The employment of civil servants from all sects should also “be based on competency, integrity and the willingness to fight corruption, which has become rampant in most institutions,” they said.
On Tuesday, the Change and Reform bloc of MP Michel Aoun decried what it called the exclusion of Christians from state posts, including the Finance Ministry, saying it is contrary to the country’s National Pact.
Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil reportedly has replaced a Maronite Christian with a Shiite at a top post at his ministry.
The minister confirmed the move but said the case was “one out of 400 jobs and that his decision also noted the appointment of Christians in other departments.”
The statement issued by the bishops encouraged dialogue and “hailed any initiative that would lead to the election of a president.”
“Lebanon is ruled through cooperation among its different factions and not through divisions,” it said in reference to the latest rapprochement between the Lebanese Forces and the FPM, which is founded by Aoun.
Last month, LF chief Samir Geagea withdrew from the presidential race and endorsed the candidacy of his long-time rival Aoun.
The bishops said that “dialogue will only be effective” if “parliamentary blocs headed to the parliament to put democracy on the right path.”
They also “urged politicians to steer the government clear of their differences so that it practices its executive authorities.”
Problems such as unemployment, poverty and a delicate security situation that one third of the Lebanese population are suffering from require cabinet action, the bishops added.
G.K.
M.T.
03 February 2016, 15:03
22
Wrong.there are 7 million Christians abroad who count in the same way as all other Lebanese...,
03 February 2016, 15:03
31
Another important issue is the quality, intellect, education, knowledge, competence.
It is not possible to educate 15 children with the same quality as two, three or four children.
03 February 2016, 17:02
01
Without Christians, there is no Lebanon! This is reality! Also without Muslims, then the Lebanese Republic would not exist! Lebanon is unique in the world because of the Christians! You can ignore the past 60years but you can't ignore the past 10 years! Without Christians, Lebanon would be like Iraq! Only the Christians have the right to destroy Lebanon!!!! Read history and understand reality... There is no Lebanon without Christians... and the Lebanon can only exist with strong Christian (Maronite) involvement! Isolate Christians to their overall demographic position and risk a split, federation style!
03 February 2016, 16:51
03
If you take the Lebanese diaspora into account, and not the 2nd plus generations... Then you have an estimated 6million Lebanese around the world. 85% are estimated by the WLCU (World Lebanese cultural Union) to be Christian. The WLCU is the United Nations and Lebanese government representative of the diaspora! If the electoral law allowed foreign Lebanese nationals to vote then the Lebanese demographic would be very different! The biggest difference is the fact that many Muslims don't believe in the republic of Lebanon and after emigrating from Lebanon they lose interest, were Christains never forget! Could all be a fairy tale or could be true... Give Lebanese outside Lebanon the right to vote and the truth will be shown!
03 February 2016, 20:20
00
What was mentioned were FACTS not judgements...
But only equilibrated people can see the difference!
