Lebanon’s fresh-faced dynasties

Link

FT, here

"Have you heard the one about how Lebanon’s aspiring politicians get around these days? They take the school bus.

The joke, which is doing the rounds in Beirut as Lebanon prepares for parliamentary elections, reflects the slew of fresh young faces that will contest the June 7 ballot. But, while the faces may be new, the names of those contesting a poll that will determine whether the balance of power remains tilted towards the west, or tips towards Iran and Syria, are not so fresh.

Lebanon has taken the art of political dynasty to a whole new level. The political scene remains dominated by clans, rather than parties. Young members of families such as the Gemayels, the Mouawads and the Tuenis – not to mention a returning Hariri – are entering the political fray this year. They all have one thing in common: family members assassinated in attacks blamed on, but denied by, Syria.

“Why are we here? Because they killed our parents. They killed our dream, the dream of a new country,” says Nayla Tueni, 26, whose father Gebran, an anti-Syrian member of parliament and editor of the influential An-Nahar newspaper, was killed in a car bomb in 2005.... But the balance of power could tip in favour of the opposition March 8 faction, led by Hizbollah... The prospect of moving closer to Syria has motivated many of the new generation of Christian politicians linked to March 14.....“We cannot live normal lives. In some ways, we are in a prison,” says Michel Mouawad, 37, whose father, Rene Mouawad, a former president, was killed in 1989. Mr Mouawad is seeking to take over the Maronite seat in the Zgharta district held by his mother, Nayla. “We can’t communicate freely with the electorate and we can’t visit the villages,” says Mr Mouawad, who has not eaten out at a restaurant since Mr Tueni was killed....

The continuation of this list of familiar names highlights the tribal nature of much of Lebanese politics, partly undermining the candidates’ rhetoric about the promotion of democracy. It also alienates many voters.

“It’s not good – we need change,” says Fadi, a 33-year-old computer engineer in the Christian-dominated Ashrafiyeh area of Beirut, where Ms Tueni and Nadim Gemayel are running. “It’s been this way for decades – we have been governed by the same families and we continue to have the same problems. We need new leaders,” Fadi says...."

Posted by G, Z, & or B at 8:07 PM