https://arab.news/9c5y7
- Bassil, who has been the target of protesters' anger, was speaking on a panel named 鈥淭he return of Arab Unrest鈥�
- CNBC's Hadley Gamble, who moderated the discussion, put pressure on Bassil over his comments on governance
DAVOS: Lebanon鈥檚 new government needs to win the confidence of the parliament, the confidence of the people, and the confidence of the international community, former Lebanese foreign minister Gebran Bassil said at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday.
In a much-anticipated panel discussion plagued by controversy and uncertainty since its announcement, Bassil appeared despite a social media campaign and petition calling for his invitation to be rescinded.
He said the country was in its current position because of 30 years of 鈥渨rong policies.鈥�
鈥淭he responsibility of the Lebanese government is to take the challenge of changing and reforming the system,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat is happening now in the streets is very positive because it is creating a dynamic for change.鈥�
Joining Bassil for the discussion 鈥� 鈥淭he return of Arab Unrest鈥� 鈥� were Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag and Damac Properties chairman Hussein Sajwani.
Kaag spoke of the importance of Lebanon as a 鈥渞egional public good in a volatile region鈥� saying the country has 鈥渟o much to offer.鈥� However, she added, 鈥淚t is so painful to see a model of consensual democracy turn away to provide a disservice.
鈥淥ne should not need wasta,鈥� she continued, referring to the Arabic word for influence and/or bribery. 鈥淲asta is a total sign of poverty, whereby only if you have means, access, and influence, you are someone.鈥�
Gebran Bassil, a hate figure for Lebanese protesters, was grilled by Hadley Gamble during a Davos panel. (WEF)
Panel moderator, CNBC anchor Hadley Gamble, did not hold back when questioning the former foreign minister, repeatedly reminding him of his infamous quote at Davos last year, when he said, 鈥淲ashington and London should maybe learn from Lebanon how to run a country without a budget.鈥�
Bassil鈥檚 spokesperson May Khreish had earlier accused Gamble of being part of 鈥渁 Zionist campaign against Bassil's participation in the conference.鈥�
鈥淲e have a malfunctioning system because of confessionalism. What the young people are calling for in the streets is a secular system whereby citizens are equal,鈥� Bassil said.
He also expressed his hope that Lebanon鈥檚 current crisis could be resolved in-house. 鈥淟et the people of the region decide what they want,鈥� he said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 dictate to them foreign recipes. Let the international community help not dictate.
鈥淟ebanon is still a democracy 鈥� we have a high level of freedom and they are encouraged to keep this force of change, and when they decide we don鈥檛 represent them anymore, we step aside,鈥� he continued, referring to former Prime Minister Saad Hariri鈥檚 government resigning a few weeks after the start of the protests in October 2019.
Damac boss Sajwani suggested that the general public in the region did not treat democracy with appropriate gravitas. 鈥淭he challenge we have in the Middle East is that people are not being professional when it comes to elections,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey are going by emotions and religion, which is totally unacceptable.鈥�
Kaag praised the determination and persistence of Lebanon's youth. 鈥淭he specter of possible civil war will not work anymore (as a deterrent for protests),鈥� she said.
Lebanon鈥檚 new coalition government was formed on Tuesday after almost 100 days of widespread public protests about the state of the economy, corruption, high unemployment and a lack of basic services. The majority of its 20 ministers are aligned with Hezbollah and its allies.