Qanso: A Symbol Or A Distraction?

Posted on by Mustapha

The fight P.M Seniora has picked over Mr. Ali Qanso was unnecessary.

To Mr. Seniora, rejecting Mr. Qanso in his cabinet was a matter of principle:

Sources in Saniora’s office said the premier-designate is “keen on forming a national unity cabinet that would lead the nation to a new era.”

“Qanso’s participation would not serve this purpose because he had threatened to liquidate Mustaqbal Movement members, topped by the movement leader MP Saad Hariri” during clashes between the Hizbullah-led opposition and pro-government gunmen in May.

To March 14, Hezbollah’s proposal of Mr. Qanso was a poison pill that is meant to prevent the formation of the new government in order to embarrass President Sleiman in his upcoming summit in Paris. Add to that the continued violence in Tripoli, which the majority sees as the Syrians’ way of saying “take Qanso or else” (witness Mr. Mouallem’s unsubtle remarks) , and we get ourselves the recipe for a symbolic battle over whether or not Syria should be able to dictate its choices on us by force.

The question is: Was Mr. Qanso worth all this fuss?

There is no doubt that he’s a terrible person. But If Mr. Seniora chose to accept Hezbollah, the main architects of Beirut’s invasion, in his cabinet, then why would he single out Mr. Qanso as a troublemaker? Moreover — to play the devil’s advocate — Mr. Berri is right: The Doha agreement did not confer on Mr. Seniora a veto right on who the opposition can choose to represent it.

Mr. Seniora should climb down as fast as possible in a face-saving way, to avoid this turning this into another high-stakes battle over an essentially insignificant individual. Mr. Seniora is also allowing his critics to accuse him of creating small battles as a distraction from the infighting taking place in the ranks of March 14 over cabinet positions.

0 Responses to Qanso: A Symbol Or A Distraction?

  1. qanso and his party reject the concept of Lebanon. How on earth can you have a Syrian in your cabinet. No Mus it is not the same. At least HA still states it is Lebanese.

  3. Sorry Steve, but you’re off on this one too.

    In a normal universe, “political” parties beholden to foreign causes and answering to foreign patrons should be OUTLAWED (not merely refused participation in a national cabinet.) That also goes for the Baath, and Hezbollah, which, arguably, is NOT EVEN a political party but an illegal foreign army of local quislings and mercenaries.

    I resent your dismissive–typically Lebanese btw–attitude that Qanso is “insignificant” and, therefore, ma3lesh, let him in anyway! We’re talking about bullies and illegitimate formations here (SSNP, Baath, Hezbollah) who ARE NOT INTERESTED in seeking a modicum of fairplay in Lebanese politics; their only goal is to undermine and ultimately dismantle the Lebanese state. And you advocate we play with them???

    Besides Lebanon, I don’t know of any sovereign nation on earth that tolerates—let alone protects the participation of—”political parties” that seek to wither that very nation. Democracy and fair representation is one thing, Steve. National suicide is something else entirely. So, I say NO to this silly sort of “resignation” that says “ma3lesh, we should talk to these people and bring them into the fold anyway.” Ma kiss ékhta ya man, ma these people are advocating for our elimination and the elimination of our state, and you still want to bring them into the circle? This is not “co-existence” and “compromise”, Mustapha, this is sheer insanity!!!! Have you gone soft on us??

  4. Lol LNH,..But I cant agree with him more, SSNP should be illegal…the Tamil tigers,and the Basque separatists have more reason to exist then these cold blooded vermon who claim to be the intelligentsia, but are nothing but blind egotistical maniacs dreaming of a bygone Era.One red line im dying to see….” Anyone not acknowledging the state of Lebanon can get out or be executed as an enemy of the state.

  5. A source close to the Daily Star said…

    “There is no such thing as the Qanso obstacle … Berri and Hizbullah were very clear about nominating Qanso and there is no reason for Siniora to have reservations about this issue,”

    “Qanso is Lebanese and so is his party … We don’t understand Siniora’s objection to his participation in the cabinet,” the source added.

    “The truth is that the March 14 Forces are still not done with working out their internal differences and they want to blame someone for their failure to agree among each other … They want to make it seem as if the opposition is responsible for delaying the formation of the government.”

  6. Jester,

    ….your point? Do you think TDS rag is a reputable source to quote just because it is in english??
    TDS is totally wrong and the answer you’ll find in the above comments!!

  7. The sad truth is that we are proving to everyone in the world that we’re incapable of self governing…we can’t elect a president on our own and now we just can’t stop bickering over government seats…we’re the butts of jokes and we deserve it!

  8. seems Siniora’s problem with Kanso is personal and not related to the SSNP.

    in all cases, if the doha agreement stated that each side can pick WHOMEVER they want, then Kanso will have his seat in the end.

    we’ve seen more disgusting developments recently, with the latest being the awarding of the judicial ministry to the ouwet, out of all ppl. – vomit -

  9. the name “Syrian Social Nationalist Party” is a disgrace to every lebanese.
    this “party” was based to establish the greater syria, that means the end of lebanon.
    that idea alone is considered traitorous.
    at the end of the day these people will support syria against lebanon, therefore i considere them worse than lahd forces, because lahd and his scum had the dignity to leave with the israeli’s.

  11. This whole fiasco of forming a government representing different groups who are at each other’s throats is laughable. Unless the designated prime minister, with the collaboration of the president, forms a homogenous group of people, experts in their fiels, and not members of the parliement to avoid conflict of interests, we would be the laughingstock of the world.

  12. at last the new government formation out, and ali qanso is officially a minister, what a disgrace, we are going back in time slowly time the syrian era.

    @ Another Mustapha
    the technocratic government is impossible in lebanon is every party wants a share of the pie.

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