Background: 

Fāris Būīz, Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, elaborates upon the challenges that Lebanon faces with a focus on the imminent elections. Member of parliament ʿAṣām Fāris outlines his stance on Lebanon’s development, electoral law, economy and its place in the world.

Side A: 

Fāris Būīz, Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, talks about the importance of the coming elections in light of the devastating civil war. After 20 years of democracy standing still, general elections took place in 1992. There are very important stations for Lebanon the coming years: the elections for a new president after two years, overcoming economic and social problems, and the Middle-East peace process. Finding the issues ahead important enough, he left behind his business activities. He feels he owes giving something back to his country. Free elections in the north and return of democracy are early successes of post-war Lebanon. The people of Lebanon continued to aid the poor and sending children to schools in times of governmental absence. However, individuals can never replace an entire government and hence appreciated the new government’s work.  

Būīz defends the election law against accusations of being unbalanced, then explains that although currently candidates have to run independently, he hopes for a party system to prevail eventually. In the elections of the north, the constituents had to elect 28 out of 136 listed candidates. He then outlines the campaign of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafīq Bahāʾ al-Dīn al-Ḥarīrī’s campaign and his own critical stance toward him. Yet, in face of the Israeli attack on South Lebanon, they and the whole nation stood united. He confirms the conclusion that extremists came out as losers from the elections in the north. In the following, he outlines his personal programme: he wants to look after his area (ʿAkār, which is a deprived area), the region and whole Lebanon. He firmly believes peace is coming. While Lebanon inhibits four million people, fourteen million Lebanese live abroad spread all over the world. Along with him, other businessmen returned to Lebanon but the aim is to attract a lot more expatriated Lebanese. There is also the need for more foreign investment and capital flow. He explains that Lebanon aims for a better relationship with Syria and peace with Israel while gaining back its territory and the Golan Heights.

ʿAṣām Fāris, a member of parliament from the north, outlines the three main problems of Lebanon: (1) the religious and communitarian challenge, (2) the division of the representative power in the parliament and (3) the contradiction between real political representation on the one hand and patronage on the other hand. Voting merely based on religious affiliation and the high number of minor parties in the parliament exacerbate building a homogenous government, a unified economic strategy or even a political strategy. Finally, if votes are given in exchange of services, the level of the politicians’ competence will fall. Fāris criticises the electoral law for applying different standards within the country. The main mission of the new parliament will be to deal with regional issues, especially the peace process; to apply the Taif Agreement; and to design a new vision for the unification of the country as well as its role in the region and administrative reforms, which he explains in detail.

Side B: 

Fāris continues that in some ministries, there is over-employment, while in others there is under-employment. This prevents an effective adjustment of salaries.

In the Taif agreement, 2 billion dollars from Arab countries were promised to rebuild Lebanon. However, only 250 million dollars has been paid. He finds it too soon to speculate over the presidential elections after two years and highlights the various contributions of Maronites to Lebanon, asked about changing the requirement for the president to be Maronite. 

Further, he expects that one day, full sovereignty of Lebanon from Syria will be reached and highlights the extraordinary independent role of Lebanon during the Ottoman empire. At the same time, historically it always paid the price of war and benefitted most from peace. Lebanon will be capable of acting as a bridge between the western and the Arab World. According to Fāris, the only thing Lebanon needs is a solution of the regional conflicts. Once this happens, Lebanon would be able to live up to its multi-facetted potential.