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Friday 11 International Friday, April 27, 2018 Fresh faces but same old names in Lebanon election BEIRUT: Fresh young faces may be campaigning tive or anti-reform,” he adds. “New generations can to win a seat in Lebanon’s parliament next month, bring to life projects that are in the public interest but their family names are anything but new. For that were developed by their forefathers-and adapt decades the same families have played a pivotal them to evolving times.” role in the small Middle Eastern country, officially ruled by a parliamentary democratic system but ‘Forged my own path’ where political power is still informally handed First-time candidate Zaher Eido rejects any ac- down through generations. cusations his surname might have “parachuted” As Lebanon finally heads to the legislative polls him into circles of power. He is running in Beirut after a nine-year hiatus, several candidates hail just over a decade since his father, also a lawmaker, from a third-or even fourth generation-of the and older brother died in a car bomb in the capi- BEIRUT: This combination of pictures shows the electoral banners of Lebanese candidates in same political clans. There are such cases in almost tal.”Sure, I may have inherited a political past, but the upcoming parliamentary elections. (Left to right) Nadim Gemayel in Beirut, current Prime all of the 18 religious communities represented in I’m also interested in politics,” says Zaher, who like Minister Saad Hariri in Beirut, Taymour Jumblatt in Aley, Michel Moawad in Jounieh and Chamel Lebanon’s complex confessional system. Faced his father is a member of the leading Future Move- Roukoz in Jounieh. —AFP with accusations of “nepotism” and “feudalism”, ment. The 44-year-old banker says he wants to these sons and daughters of influential men have apply his professional experience towards passing defended what they say is a genuine desire for re- new legislation to fight money laundering. portraits of his father. The list goes on: candidate the leader are still largely ingrained in Lebanese form. Incumbent candidate Nadim Gemayel was “Over 11 years, I’ve forged my own path, built my Taymour Jumblatt is the child of Lebanon’s Druze society, which keeps hereditary politics in place. elected a member of parliament in 2009, but pol- own career and personality... And if I can’t make leader Walid and the grandson of Kamal, who While some families follow “strict centuries-old itics have decades-old roots in his family tree. things evolve, I’ll resign,” he pledges. Eido and founded the Progressive Socialist Party. Tony Fran- feudalism, a pseudo-feudal system has taken root He is the youngest son of late president-elect Gemayel are part of a familiar pattern in Beirut. jieh is the fourth generation of his political family: in other communities since the emergence of Bachir Gemayel, killed in 1982, and the grandson of Michelle Tueini, 31, has already partially followed in his great-grandfather Suleiman was elected head modern Lebanon”, she says. Many of those who Pierre Gemayel, who founded the Phalangist the footsteps of her father Gebran as a journalist after of state in 1970 and his own father was in the run- founded today’s political dynasties once headed (Kataeb) Party in which Nadim is now a leading of- he was assassinated in 2005. She is now also running ning for the presidency in 2016. Even current Pres- armed groups during Lebanon’s civil war from ficial. “The reason I’m involved in politics is of for parliament like him, taking over from her elder ident Michel Aoun’s nephew and two sons-in-law 1975 to 1990. Political power being handed down course linked to Bachir’s assassination and to the sister Nayla, a lawmaker for the past nine years. are running for parliamentary office. across generations has long angered scores of values that got him killed,” says Gemayel. “But it’s The country’s own Prime Minister Saad Hariri Lebanese voters, and rivals have taken note of also tied to my own frustration at seeing my country ascended to power after his father Rafiq-assassi- ‘Pseudo-feudalism’ their scorn. Kulluni Watani, a reformist coalition, so badly managed,” the 36-year-old says. “Being nated in 2005 — held the post for years. Hariri’s Fadia Kiwan, politics professor at the Saint has put forward 70 candidates across the country someone’s son is not necessarily something nega- campaign posters, plastered across Beirut, feature Joseph University, says patriarchy and the cult of that it pledges will break the pattern. —AFP.

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