by Dana Halawi
BEIRUT, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's experts expressed multiple concerns about the transitional period following the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
Political Analyst Assaad Bechara told Xinhua that Hezbollah, who is the first defender of Hariri's government, will definitely want to stay in power, which provides the party with political legitimacy and gives it some protection against foreign pressure.
Bechara explained that this will complicate the transitional period because protesters were very clear that they do not want any political government but only a cabinet of experts capable of dealing with economic challenges.
The analyst warned that Lebanese President Michel Aoun should listen to the people and form a government with a program aimed at saving the economic situation in addition to calling for early parliamentary elections because the current ruling class has lost its legitimacy.
Hariri submitted his resignation to Aoun on Tuesday amid nationwide demonstrations against the government and its policies.
Over a million protesters took to the streets all over Lebanon for around 13 days while blocking roads all over the country to demonstrate against corruption and the government's policies which led to the impoverishment of people throughout the years, according to protesters.
They also complained about the absence of basic services, such as proper healthcare, electricity and clean water supply in addition to the high unemployment rate among the youths.
The protesters asked for early parliamentary elections to allow new lawmakers to the parliament and work in favor of the Lebanese people.
Hariri's resignation calmed the protests on Tuesday while enabling the Lebanese army to open most of the blocked roads.
However, people in the streets said they won't stop protesting until the whole political class is changed and officials are held accountable for their corrupt approach in the past years.
"People who got used to protest to topple the government will not leave the streets easily. Protests are open for now," Wissam Saade, a lecturer of political science and history at Saint Joseph University, told Xinhua.
Saade said he is not too optimistic about forming a government of experts, nor witnessing the formation of any government soon.
"We never had such a government in Lebanon. These are only slogans when we talk about reforms and complete political change," he said.
Meanwhile, Hilal Khashan, chair of the Political Studies Department at the American University of Beirut (AUB), said he is pessimistic about the formation of a technocrat government because the Lebanese political system is concessional.
Khashan warned that if the protesters keep on protesting until reaching their goal of mass resignation of the political class, Lebanon's situation will be further deteriorated economically and financially.
He also believes that Hezbollah wants to maintain its share of power and it won't give up.
According to Paul Morcos, founder of JUSTICIA Beirut Consult Law Offices, the Lebanese president will hold parliamentary negotiations in the coming days to appoint a new prime minister who will then be able to form a government.
"I am not worried about a delay in appointing a new prime minister but I am worried about a delay in the formation of a new government as it has been the case in Lebanon over the past years, which the country cannot bear on the economic and financial levels," he said.
