tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22261571.post1544850326122917327..comments2024-03-20T01:06:12.181-04:00Comments on MEI Editor's Blog: Sa‘d Hariri Gets the NodUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22261571.post-24443472330602841782009-06-29T18:13:52.750-04:002009-06-29T18:13:52.750-04:00Hariri has accurately read the results of three el...Hariri has accurately read the results of three elections. The US election indicated that there would be little support in Washington for continued confrontation with Syria. The Lebanese election indicated a still badly divided Lebanese electorate (with a popular vote majority for the opposition coalition). To protect the Lebanese system restored at Taif, a simple parliamentary majority is inadequate to support a cabinet or to pass legislation that will stick. Finally, the Iranian election gives Lebanese political leaders a splendid opportunity to show that they have the political maturity and tolerance of differences to govern effectively and with genuine legitimacy, unlike the ruling regime in Tehran. I could even add that it teaches a lesson to their Israeli neighbor that real parliamentary democracy is not just a matter of cobbling together a majority.David Macknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22261571.post-89898025283546376792009-06-29T10:52:29.144-04:002009-06-29T10:52:29.144-04:00I find the whole process quite interesting. How Sa...I find the whole process quite interesting. How Sa’d Alhariri will be able to establish his credibility away from the Saudi deal with Syria, I think this will be one of his main challenges in the near future. Especially that his experience in politics, in pragmatic terms and compared with his father’s weight within the Lebanese social context, has still a long way to go through. However, more interesting I think, is the debate over the reappointment of Berri. There is little doubt that shi’ite are to be looking for new options soon and so there will be wider margin for other candidate to prove credibility, in the near future. And hopefully then, celebrations wont garner more than one civilian!Dina Hadadnoreply@blogger.com