DIGITAL LIFE

Whatsapp overthrows Prime Minister in Lebanese

Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced on Tuesday the resignation of his government, on the 13th day of an unprecedented popular protest in Lebanon that demands the departure of the entire political class from power.
His speech was greeted with applause by the crowd who heard him live from various places of mobilization, before the national anthem was sung by the protesters.
Fireworks were fired in Beirut as cars crossed the city honking as a sign of victory.
Hariri, 49, said he would go to the Presidential Palace of Baabda to present the resignation "in the face of the will of many Lebanese who took to the streets to demand changes".
In a very short television speech, he asked "all Lebanese to privilege Lebanon's interest (...) protect civil peace and prevent any deterioration of the economic situation".
After an unprecedented popular uprising in the country's history, the protesters thus won their main claim. But discontent is directed at the entire political class, considered unanimously incompetent and corrupt.The country has been almost paralyzed for two weeks by barriers that block the main access to the capital.
Banks, schools and universities are closed.Thirty years after the civil war (1975-1990), the population still suffers from chronic shortages of water and electricity. More than a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line and the country is among the most corrupt in the world.
On 21 October, Prime Minister Hariri announced a reform plan that he did not convince: measures against corruption, a tax-free budget, a privatisation programme to combat the dysfunction of public services and help for the most disadvantaged.
According to the press, the Western capitals, including Paris and Washington, intervened to ask Hariri to remain in his post in the name of stability.
According to the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Lebanon "is in a very serious crisis (...) a crisis of confidence".
"In this situation, France calls on all Lebanese authorities to do their utmost to ensure the stability of the institutions and the unity of Lebanon."
The protest exploded on October 17 after the announcement of a new Call tax via WhatsApp.
The rapid cancellation of the measure did not prevent the revolt from spreading across the country.
Hariri's resignation takes place at a time of increasing tension, although the protests are mostly peaceful.
Shortly before his speech, clashes were reported in Beirut, where dozens of attackers destroyed the tents mounted by the protesters and attacked with sticks and stones those who did not flee.
Police had to intervene to prevent clashes involving pro-Iranian Hezbollah supporters.
On Sunday, the protesters demonstrated unprecedented strength and unity, forming a human current from north to south of the country, 170 km long.
The current government is the third under Prime Minister Hariri since taking office in 2009. Long supported by Saudi Arabia, he is the son of billionaire and former prime minister Rafik Hariri, who was assassinated in 2005.

Source: AFP