Lebanon (MNN) — The battle for Lebanon’s leadership continues. Today, what began as a boisterous rallying cry for change in October 2019, is a desperate plea wearied by political delay.
The Lebanese people are resilient, but so are their politicians. Speaker of Parliament and Hezbollah ally Nabih Berri was reelected this week for a seventh consecutive term. Opponents predicted a “major confrontation” following Berri’s appointment.
“The fight is not over,” Nuna of Triumphant Mercy Lebanon says, describing a power struggle between corrupt officials and public representatives to decide the country’s fate.
“If the Hezbollah group is strong and united, and the opponent’s group is not united, that’s bad. So [believers are] praying now for unity.”
Changes underway
Elected on May 15, Lebanon’s new parliament remains deeply divided. However, one result encouraged many voters – Hezbollah lost its hold on power.
“Even some of their (Hezbollah’s) politicians who were supposed to win are not there anymore,” Nuna says.
Sunday of Unity protests in Beirut, Lebanon, on November 3, 2019.
(Wikimedia Commons)
The presence of new, independent legislators is a significant achievement. Hezbollah and its allies have held a majority in Parliament since 2018. More change is in the works.
“On the day of the elections, there [was] lots of cheating happening. But some people actually stopped [the cheating]; like a judge would say, ‘I am not working with you, I am working for the Lebanese government. You are not allowed to do this’,” Nuna says.
“This is new in Lebanon, that people would stand and speak justice.”
Find your place in the story
Pray for unity among Lebanon’s elected leaders. Representatives need to work together to implement crucial reform and unlock foreign funding.
Pray Lebanon’s decision-makers will not remove religious freedom. Pray believers can keep sharing Jesus with people who need hope.
“We feel the Spirit is moving, and change is coming. We don’t know how big the change will be or where things will go, but we see it and feel it,” Nuna says, summarizing thoughts from a prayer movement for the region.
“It’s only in Lebanon [where] Christians still have a voice and can do something. It’s crucial we keep that lampstand up and shining bright.”
In the header image, Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, meets with Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser in 2018. (Wikimedia Commons)
