Anti-government protests in Lebanon also break out in Hezbollah’s heartland
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The anti-government protests in Lebanon have spread also to the powerful Hezbollah heartland in the south.
This area is dominated by Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Party, who were considered untouchable up to this point.
As elsewhere in Lebanon, the demonstrators are protesting a regime they see as both corrupt and inefficient. And with three ministers in the government, the perception of Hezbollah is changing – even on the party’s home-turf.
Since October 17, a people’s uprising has been targeting the Lebanese government and the political class, considered corrupt and incompetent. It has not waned since and continues to sweep across the entire country.
This includes southern Lebanon and Bekaa, the most important Shia electoral strongholds of Hassan Nasrallah’s Hezbollah and the Amal movement led by the Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon, Nabih Berri.
Demonstrators in the Lebanese capital say their demands are “clear” and they will keep protesting until the government falls, disregarding a speech by Hezbollah’s leader who warned that the protest movement risked pushing Lebanon into “chaos” and “God forbid” civil war.
Lebanese Riot police stand guard between Hezbollah supporters and anti-government protesters during the eighth day of protest in Riad Al Solh Square in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, . Scores of Hezbollah supporters shouted slogans praising Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah during othwise peaceful anti-government protests. Protests entered their second week, when thousands took to the streets to protest proposals of tax hikes and state corruption, and calling for the resignation of the government. EPA-EFE/NABIL MOUNZER
In a televised address on Friday, Hassan Nasrallah said a government resignation would create a power vacuum which could lead the country into civil unrest “similar to what’s happening in the region”.
