Lebanon Faces Explosion Accident, Cabinet Resigns Completely... 'Uncertain if Politics Will Change'

Cabinet Resigns Completely 6 Days After Explosion Accident
Uncertain If Lebanon, Divided by Sectarian Power Sharing, Will Change

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The Lebanese cabinet announced its full resignation on the 10th (local time). This is to take responsibility for the massive explosion accident that occurred in Beirut. Since the explosion, protests have been held daily in Beirut and other areas.

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced the cabinet's full resignation in a national address on the same day. Prime Minister Diab stated, "I found that political corruption is greater than the nation." He blamed the resistance of vested interests who do not want reform.

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab is submitting his resignation to Lebanese President Michel Aoun. The Lebanese cabinet, including Prime Minister Diab, decided to resign en masse on this day, taking responsibility for failing to prevent the explosion of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that occurred in Beirut on the 4th. At least 160 people lost their lives and 6,000 were injured in the Beirut explosion. Following the incident, protests demanding the government's resignation have continued in Lebanon. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 4th, 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, a flammable substance stored in a warehouse in Beirut, exploded. It is known that over 160 people have died and more than 6,000 have been injured so far due to this accident. The ammonium nitrate had been stored in the warehouse for the past six years, raising controversy over neglect.

Some foreign media reported that warnings about the dangers of the ammonium nitrate stored in the warehouse were delivered to the president and prime minister two weeks before the accident but were ignored.

Lebanon, already in a state of national bankruptcy due to the financial crisis, is now facing a severe crisis after this explosion. Angry citizens demanded the resignation of the regime, but it remains uncertain whether any change will occur even if the Diab government steps down.

In Lebanon, where Muslims and Christians coexist, power has been divided according to religion. The president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the parliament is a Shia Muslim, dividing power accordingly. Because of this, it is uncertain whether the new government will truly be a 'new' government despite this accident.

Lebanon adopted a political system dividing power among groups after a 15-year civil war that ended in 1990. Experts say it was essentially a form of power-sharing among factions.

From this perspective, Prime Minister Diab, who announced his resignation this time, was closer to a technocrat than a political faction. However, ministers of each department also divided positions among factions, making it difficult to respond properly even during the economic crisis.

On the day, Prime Minister Diab visited the Lebanese presidential palace and submitted his resignation to President Michel Aoun. At this meeting, President Aoun assigned Prime Minister Diab the role of caretaker government until the next government is formed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.