A dynamite Baroud rose to Lebanon”s election-day challenge
In Arabic, "Baroud" technically means gunpowder, but we”ll take the liberty of twisting it into "dynamite," as in Ziad Baroud – our minister of interior – did a dynamite job in organizing a tense and dramatic parliamentary election round.
The performance of Baroud and his team at the Interior Ministry should be commended because they ensured, as best they could, the tranquility and transparency that we so desperately need in our electoral process. Nothing is perfect, and officials can”t be blamed for the minor incidents that erupted here and there. But despite all of the recent tension, turnout levels reached 52.3 percent by 5 p.m. on Sunday, compared to the total participation rate of 45 percent in 2005.
When Baroud officially evaluates election day during a news conference, we need to hear about a solution for the long waits at polling stations. It appears to be a technical issue: Do we need twice as many ISF or other personnel, for example, to man a much higher number of voting centers?
If Baroud was dynamite, the Lebanese electorate – barring some trouble-makers – turned in an exemplary performance. Tensions and clashes register in the media; what stays in the mind is the civil manner in which 99 percent of people behaved as they did their civic duty. For some, this means a long trip across the country to cast a vote in a place determined by the location of your father or husband”s civil registration.
Our candidates could learn a thing or two from their constituents when it comes to how to behave. President Michel Sleiman and politicians from both sides have praised Lebanon”s uniqueness and democratic example, but this generates a huge responsibility. Our new MPs will have their work cut out for them, as soon as they are confirmed in their seats. They have only a narrow margin of maneuver to achieve success, whether dealing with the economy, political reform, or the regional system. We need to see their campaign slogans translated into results; we can”t afford another dysfunctional and deranged legislature.
With our new Parliament, perhaps Sleiman”s term will really begin. It”s a chance for him to carve out a truly effective role and exercise true independence, the kind a Lebanese president hasn”t exhibited in several decades. Without a strong – but not overbearing – captain at the helm, the ship won”t make it. Perhaps it was to be expected that officials and voters were on good behavior during Sunday”s "civics" test; it”s now the duty of politicians to match this performance over the next four years.