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RCPL finds the newly appointed cabinet a dangerous initiative that raises
many concerns about the democratic process in the Lebanese political system,
and creates a precedent. Several indicators of unhealthy and non-transparent
democratic process confirm these concerns, mainly:
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This highlights that, once more, there were no free elections but
designations and nominations behind closed doors, controlled by political
clans or personal interests.
The decision-makers appear to be the significant pro-Syrian players in Lebanon, who split the Cabinet positions among their loyalists and
relatives. This process creates clans, blocking any possibility for reforms, and
prevents the Cabinet from fulfilling its mandate, thus establishing roots
for a non-democratic political system.
RCPL calls the newly appointed cabinet to demonstrate transparency through
real democratic political practices. This can be done by taking concrete
steps towards the elimination of human rights abuses and media muzzling carried out by the previous governments, more specifically with regards to
the file of the Lebanese detainees in Syrian jails and to the shutdown of
MTV and Radio Mont Liban. Lebanon needs to return to its state of beacon of
light and freedom that has always distinguished it from all surrounding countries.
We also urge our Canadian government to closely work with the new Lebanese
government, and encourage the latter to respect human rights and to abide by
the democratic values.
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