A state of political emergency should be announced in Lebanon over the coronavirus outbreak that threatens the health of the entire population, a high-ranking official said.
“After the government announced a state of health emergency on Sunday, Lebanon should declare a political mobilization because this pandemic affects all parties,” the unidentified official told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“All parties from different sects … should work on keeping Lebanon on the path of safety to contain this disease,” the source said, adding that Lebanese officials must now depend on themselves while the world is busy fighting the pandemic.
According to the source, the government should first start by acquiring all the necessary medical equipment that Lebanon needs to fight the virus.
“A political mobilization means the development of a health rescue plan to protect the country based on the instructions of the Health Ministry,” he noted.
The source explained that the new plan means the delay of the economic rescue efforts that the government had planned to unveil in May.
“The economic rescue plan would not be the same one drafted before the outbreak of the virus in Lebanon,” he added.
The official said the country has entered an extremely dangerous phase.
“President Michel Aoun is the best person capable of bringing all parties together to … confront this virus, particularly that opposition leaders such as former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, the head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, and Phalange Party leader Sami Gemayel, have expressed supportive stances to contain the virus," the official added.
