Only hours before the French president's second visit to Lebanon in less than a month, Lebanese politicians have rushed to announce their support for designating the country's ambassador to Germany as the new Prime Minister, but many Lebanese commentators quickly rejected the man, and they have their reasons.
Lebanese Ambassador Adib Emerges as Front-Runner to Be PM https://t.co/YxG8UeiXjO#Lebanon pic.twitter.com/xaWf7Q5mf4
— MTV Lebanon News (@MTVLebanonNews) August 30, 2020
In the country; still recovering after a near-apocalyptic explosion on the 4th of August and after several promises made by the French president, who was the first international leader to fly to Beirut to announce support for the people and promise the former French colony a "better future," political parties have agreed to name Mustafa Adib as the new head of government.
Lebanese hot-take on Mustafa Adib via WhatsApp:
— Zahra Hankir (@ZahraHankir) August 30, 2020
"He was the ambassador of the worst Lebanese embassy in Europe, so he qualifies"
While Adib's nomination has not yet been made official, prominent leaders of political parties who often have to agree before a government is formed in Lebanon have all announced their support for him, making him the only candidate for the position.
Many questions arise while surprisingly everyone agrees on #مصطفي_أديب AS PM!
— TheRoasterDude (@dude_roaster) August 30, 2020
1st:how & who appointed him as ambassador?
2nd:what was the secret code that triggered all of a sudden the disputing parties to name him?
3rd:does the incident of Khalde has anything to do with this? pic.twitter.com/1FZaIFoYaQ
Mustapha Adib please resign before even being assigned. #مصطفى_أديب https://t.co/jmAE8Eety9
— Ghida Houmani (@GhidaHoumani) August 30, 2020
In case you're wondering who he is, just another amal and hezbollah puppet...#مصطفي_أديب pic.twitter.com/nAabozNw7r
— Micho Bitar (@michobitar_) August 30, 2020
However, many social media users referred to Adib as "a member of the corrupt group of politicians," saying that he is no different from the corrupt known names often blamed for deteriorating economic and social crises in the struggling country. Some also expressed their fear that Adib's close ties to Hezbollah and Amal movement mean that he will be no different from past PMs.
Why dont we get 3 nominations and let the people vote, we need someone that is going to lock these criminal politians up, with zero affiliatons to current ruling mafia family #مصطفي_اديب
— Harry (@HFarhat3) August 31, 2020
لأول مرة في تاريخ #لبنان يتوافق كل الأحزاب على تسمية رئيس حكومة واحد في أقل من ٢٤ ساعة .
— ﮼Arwa (@arwaaljorf) August 31, 2020
الأمر جاء من ماكرون وما حدا استرجى يرفض .
ناس تخاف ما تختشيش
#مصطفى_أديب
Translation: "For the very first time in Lebanon's history, all parties agree on one nominee in less than 24 hours. That's an order no one can say no to, as they received it from Macron."
Some commentators also suggested that Adib's news coming out hours before Macron's long-awaited visit could mean that he was nominated by the French. Others highlighted the irony in the similarities between the last names of the resigning prime minister Hassan Diab and that of the new candidate; Mustafa Adib, saying that it could the only difference between the two men.
Same ingredients same salad..
— Cy Najjar (@cyrillenajjar) August 30, 2020
In case you are not finding what to watch here is a suggestion
— Cheimaa (@chimokc) August 30, 2020
#مصطفي_اديب pic.twitter.com/VUNvI9LzcH
Best one so far.
— Naعim Selman (@SelmanNaim) August 30, 2020
#مصطفي_أديب pic.twitter.com/nfTSaSdaf9
On Twitter, many users shared photos of Adib on his way back to Lebanon from Berlin where he served as an ambassador, saying that he had refused to undergo a PCR test before getting into the plane as per COVID-19 rules and that he had used his connections to receive special treatment, unlike other citizens, suggesting that "he's already a corrupt politician."
مصطفى اديب المرشح لتاليف حكومة. سفير لبنان في برلين. بالامس رفض الخضوع لفحص PCR واجرى اتصالا سمح له بالدخول الى الطائرة من دون الفحص.ماذا ينتظر الناس من مصطفى اديب؟ pic.twitter.com/b4NDhXZqhr
— Salman Andary (@salmanonline) August 30, 2020
Translation: "Government nominee Mustafa Adib as an ambassador in Berlin: Yesterday he refused to undergo a PCR test and made a phone call that allowed him on the plane without the test. What are people expecting from Mustafa Adib?"
I first met @MustaphaAdib in 2008 and the last time in April 2019. He's always come across as decent, knowledgeable & open-minded. But today #Lebanon needs someone (& a team) to stand up to the many bullies. Unsure he's got what it takes. #مصطفى_أديب
— Ayman Mhanna (@AymanMhanna) August 31, 2020
In the wake of the Beirut port explosion last month, which left more than 180 people dead, 52 missing individuals, in addition to thousands of injured and displaced people as it rocked the entire city, the Lebanese public called on the government to resign as they blamed corruption resulting in the explosion on politicians.
Macron to meet Fairouz in push for Lebanon reform https://t.co/4o63iXlq4j
— The Daily Star Lebanon (@DailyStarLeb) August 28, 2020
Macron's intervention in Lebanon is like getting a French chef to cook a Lebanese meal in a kitchen full of other chefs arguing about the recipe
— Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) August 31, 2020
The French President is expected to arrive to Lebanon today, where he is scheduled to meet the Lebanese icon; Fairouz, in a symbolic tribute to the country ailing after the Hiroshima-like blast of the 4th of August, before he meets other politicians as efforts intensify in an attempt to rescue the country from its struggles.