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Mikati’s Cabinet Meets For The Last Time: 14 Horrible Moments Revisited
On September 10th, 2021, PM Najib Mikati’s cabinet was formed after 13 months of push and pull.
Under the slogan, “al amal wal 3amal” (hope and work), it is safe to say that this government gave us neither. In honor of the cabinet meeting for the very last time today, we decided to run through a list of the horribly memorable things we experienced throughout its tenure. Here are 14 horrible moments we remember, (out of hundreds).
1. When they regaled us with strange and cryptic stories.
It all started with Minister of Economy Amin Salam regaling the Lebanese people with a confusing and poorly retold tale of two frogs in a well.
The next day, the Minister of Labor Mustafa Beyrum took it upon himself to share another fun animal story with us, this time about a bird who puts out a forest fire.
2. When the (first) Minister of Information Georges Kordahi expressed his desire to restrict press freedoms.
Kordahi was quoted saying, “[We need] laws such as those in France – the mother of freedoms – which forbid assaults against the dignity of politicians”. Lol.
3. When the saga that is Walid Fayyad began clowning around…
During one of his first press conferences, Minister of Energy Walid Fayyad was making jokes instead of answering pressing questions. This, as we plunged into darkness.
4. When the Minister of Telecommunications Johnny Corm suggested selling user data to private companies for profit.
He later semi-retracted this saying he meant only with consent but…nope.
5. When George Kordahi struck again!
Kordahi did not hesitate to openly express his desire, nay — wishes, for a military coup in Lebanon. When asked if he supports a military coup in Lebanon, he answered, “ya reit”.
6. And again.
Shoutout to George for making this article really easy to write.
7. When subsidies were lifted off chronic illness medications
With no safety net plan in place, leaving many citizens to ration their medications or halt them completely.
8. When Mikati dramatically stormed out of Ain el Tineh
Guess he really missed going to restaurants or something…
9. Then when he said, “badna net7ammal ba3ed”
The billionaire PM was quoted saying, ”We can no longer afford to give electricity and telecom services for free because we are out of money. And if the citizen says, ‘my money is trapped in the bank’ we say you’re right but we have to put up with each other.”
Still not sure when he gave us free electricity and telecom?
10. When citizens were forced to perform their own repairs due to Ministry strikes.
Citizens in the Northern town of Bekaa Safrin in Donnieh repaired the main pipes of a water network that feeds that town after storm damage left citizens of the town and surrounding villages without water for over a week. The ongoing strike by employees of the Ministry of Energy left citizens waiting endlessly for repairs before they decided to take matters into their own hands.
11. Another Walid Fayyad hit…
In the country where citizens experience 20 to 24 hours of blackouts, Lebanon’s Minister of Energy chose to belt out Dalida’s “Helwa Ya Baladi”. After being told “wa3adtna b Nissen…” in reference to his previous promise that citizens would benefit from increased hours of electricity, he launched into a rendition of Wael Kfoury’s “Ma W3adtik Bi Njoum El Leil”. Delightful.
12. This fact.
13. When the Minister of Justice could not go after real criminals
So he summoned families of victims.
14. But most memorably?
Is how they did absolutely nothing at all to halt the collapse.
Under the slogan, “al amal wal 3amal” (hope and work), it is safe to say that this government gave us neither. In honor of the cabinet meeting for the very last time today, we decided to run through a list of the horribly memorable things we experienced throughout its tenure. Here are 14 horrible moments we remember, (out of hundreds).
1. When they regaled us with strange and cryptic stories.
It all started with Minister of Economy Amin Salam regaling the Lebanese people with a confusing and poorly retold tale of two frogs in a well.
Giving strong “m3almit el 3arabi explaining why we failed”vibes. WTF IS HAPPENING? https://t.co/0ZkkbKFtQe
— Beirut.com (@BeirutCityGuide) September 14, 2021
The next day, the Minister of Labor Mustafa Beyrum took it upon himself to share another fun animal story with us, this time about a bird who puts out a forest fire.
Are they joking please this feels like a prank https://t.co/igifInv4fP
— Beirut.com (@BeirutCityGuide) September 15, 2021
2. When the (first) Minister of Information Georges Kordahi expressed his desire to restrict press freedoms.
— RYAN (@ryan___RK) September 30, 2021
Kordahi was quoted saying, “[We need] laws such as those in France – the mother of freedoms – which forbid assaults against the dignity of politicians”. Lol.
3. When the saga that is Walid Fayyad began clowning around…
— (@TonyBouloss) October 1, 2021
During one of his first press conferences, Minister of Energy Walid Fayyad was making jokes instead of answering pressing questions. This, as we plunged into darkness.
4. When the Minister of Telecommunications Johnny Corm suggested selling user data to private companies for profit.
اقترح # # #«#»،
— Megaphone (@megaphone_news) October 19, 2021
./1 pic.twitter.com/4mMQNlTbfW
He later semi-retracted this saying he meant only with consent but…nope.
5. When George Kordahi struck again!
#Lebanon’s Minister of Information said he wishes Lebanon would have a “temporary” military coup for five years to “give people their rights back.”
— Nader Durgham | (@NaderDurgham) October 26, 2021
The interviewer laughed and said, “there’s no such thing as a temporary military coup.”
pic.twitter.com/yYPLMvRxL2
Kordahi did not hesitate to openly express his desire, nay — wishes, for a military coup in Lebanon. When asked if he supports a military coup in Lebanon, he answered, “ya reit”.
6. And again.
Shoutout to George for making this article really easy to write.
7. When subsidies were lifted off chronic illness medications
With no safety net plan in place, leaving many citizens to ration their medications or halt them completely.
8. When Mikati dramatically stormed out of Ain el Tineh
— Jean Nakhoul (@JeanNakhoul) December 20, 2021
Guess he really missed going to restaurants or something…
9. Then when he said, “badna net7ammal ba3ed”
— Al Jadeed News (@ALJADEEDNEWS) February 10, 2022
The billionaire PM was quoted saying, ”We can no longer afford to give electricity and telecom services for free because we are out of money. And if the citizen says, ‘my money is trapped in the bank’ we say you’re right but we have to put up with each other.”
Still not sure when he gave us free electricity and telecom?
10. When citizens were forced to perform their own repairs due to Ministry strikes.
Citizens in the Northern town of Bekaa Safrin in Donnieh repaired the main pipes of a water network that feeds that town after storm damage left citizens of the town and surrounding villages without water for over a week. The ongoing strike by employees of the Ministry of Energy left citizens waiting endlessly for repairs before they decided to take matters into their own hands.
11. Another Walid Fayyad hit…
— Hussein Al Awad (@HusseinAlAwad3) March 29, 2022
In the country where citizens experience 20 to 24 hours of blackouts, Lebanon’s Minister of Energy chose to belt out Dalida’s “Helwa Ya Baladi”. After being told “wa3adtna b Nissen…” in reference to his previous promise that citizens would benefit from increased hours of electricity, he launched into a rendition of Wael Kfoury’s “Ma W3adtik Bi Njoum El Leil”. Delightful.
12. This fact.
The minister of sports and youth is 68 years old
— Beirut.com (@BeirutCityGuide) September 10, 2021
13. When the Minister of Justice could not go after real criminals
Peter Bou Saab and William Noun were summoned for questioning in relation to spray-painting “coward” outside the Minister of Justice’s home after he took part in stalling investigations.
— Beirut.com (@BeirutCityGuide) March 18, 2022
Our state is more offended by spray paint than the murder of 224 people. pic.twitter.com/aHSOI1CsWJ
So he summoned families of victims.
14. But most memorably?
Is how they did absolutely nothing at all to halt the collapse.
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