BEIRUT: Lebanon’s prime minister on Tuesday submitted his government’s resignation, bowing to nearly two weeks of unprecedented nationwide protests against corruption and sectarianism.

Saad Hariri’s express and sombre televised address was met by cheers from crowds of protesters who have remained mobilised since October 17, crippling the country to press their demands.

“It has become necessary for us to make a great shock to fix the crisis. I am going to the Baabda Palace to submit the government’s resignation,” said Hariri, who had already stepped down twice from the same post.

He said his decision comes “in response to the will of many Lebanese who took to the streets to demand change” in protests he called “historic”.

The move — which marks the most significant win by demonstrators yet — will restart the complicated task of parliament forming a new government if it is accepted by the president.

It came after days of apparently unfruitful efforts to reshuffle posts among his uneasy coalition partners and also as tension mounted on the ground between protesters and security forces bent on re-opening the country for business.

In his speech on Tuesday, he said he had reached a deadlock, urging the political class to protect the country.

Sami Nader, director of Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs, said “Hariri is opening the door to a solution because the resignation is the only way for a decent exit from the current crisis.”

France, one of Hariri’s top allies and Lebanon’s key partner in a crucial $11-billion aid plan, voiced its fears that the resignation would “make the crisis even more serious”.

A nationwide cross-sectarian protest movement has gripped Lebanon for almost two weeks, calling for an overhaul of a political class viewed as incompetent and corrupt.

Banks and schools have remained closed and the normally congested main arteries in Beirut blocked by protesters, despite the government’s adoption of an emergency economic rescue plan last week.

After Hariri’s announcement, protesters across the country erupted in applause.

Hundreds gathered in the northern city of Tripoli — a stronghold of the Sunni prime minister — as well as the southern city of Sidon, from where his family hails.

In Tripoli — home to festive protest raves — large crowds gathered in the main al-Nour square waving the Lebanese flag.

“This resignation is welcome but it is not enough. It is only one part of a larger list of demands,” said Tima Samir, a 35-year-old mother of two.

“We want the entire system to change and well stay on the streets until all our demands are met.” In Sidon’s central square, people sang and danced, as stores gave away free sweets.

Ahed Madi, a demonstrator, said the festive scenes in the city were especially “symbolic.” “Saad Hariri is from this city and this city has always embraced him. But today, the people want change,” he said.

Protesters have insisted on a complete overhaul of the country’s sectarian-based governance and celebrated the emergence of a national civic identity.

Tens of thousands of people joined hands across the country on Sunday, from Tripoli in the north, to Tyre in the south, to symbolise a newfound national unity.

The protests had been relatively incident-free, despite tensions with the armed forces and attempts by party loyalists to stage counter-demonstrations.

But prior to Hariri’s speech on Tuesday, dozens of rioters descended on a rally site near the government headquarters, where they attacked protesters, torched tents, and tore down banners calling for “revolution”, said a correspondent in the area.

They dismantled podiums and broke speakers as streams of people flooded out in panic.

“There are political orders to attack. This was not spontaneous,” said one demonstrator alluding to Amal and Hezbollah, neither of which were spared by protesters, including from their own base.

An hour earlier, the same counter-demonstrators had gathered on a nearby road where they attacked peaceful protesters who were blocking the key artery, another reporter said.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2019