But there were complaints that eight of 18 potential ministers were associated with the ruling Christian-Shia bloc. Stalemate within the political elite and between the elite and the street makes it all the more difficult to resolve Lebanon’s worst ever political crisis. Hundreds of businesses, shops, restaurants, and cafes have shut and laid off employees while foreign workers have gone home. To complicate the situation, the Trump administration, which deems Hizbullah – a major Lebanese political party – a terrorist entity, has expanded a freeze on assets to cover the entire organisation rather than only its military wing. Such US action is likely to make the movement all the more determined to ensure Lebanon has a Hizbullah-friendly government.

Source: The Irish Times January 17, 2020 17:48 UTC