Early elections

Early parliamentary elections will not provide the desired transition during this stage. Elections are based on distributing seats between majority and minority, but within the same system that we have been living under for decades. The focus of a real opposition must be on transitioning from this form of power to another – one based on a civil state that is potent and just. It is necessary to highlight that any form of elections reinforces the legitimacy of the political system and is only a way to modify those responsible within that system. Elections become meaningful when the legitimacy of the state is firmly established – when political parties make real choices in procedural sectoral, social, and economic policies, and voters react to these policies according to their self-interests. Elections under the current sectarian system, on the other hand, are fruitless because they are nothing more than measures of leaders’ popularity within a sect and across sects. As such, elections are void of any true public politics and are simply assemblies of identities and fear-mongering, as are the governments themselves (so called “national unity” governments). In fact, the authorities do not hold elections until they are certain of their outcome.

Participating in elections, however, can be justified when it is to publicly endorse a clear alternative political project developed by a specific, political alliance. Thus, elections would demonstrate the support for that clear project. This avenue, however, requires time to bear fruit, and in the face of the current crisis, we do not have the luxury of time. More importantly, this avenue calls for clarity in political discourse while the majority of those that claim to be part of the opposition are not yet ready for it, either because they shirk their responsibilities or because they have ambitions for certain political positions.