What Lebanon's Mikati Lacked To Succeed as Prime Minister
Hadi Fathallah examines Najib Mikati's resignation as Lebanon's prime minister, where he failed in the job, and what he needs to succeed should he return.
In April 2005, Najib Mikati took up the position of prime minister of Lebanon for the first time. The deal was simple: a caretaker prime minister to preside over the parliamentary elections, in return for abdicating his parliament position for four years. Back then, the role was defined. Mikati had to manage a short time-frame that would finalize post-Syrian military withdrawal and the restructuring of its security presence, while at the same time overseeing the international investigation for the U.N.-mandated international tribunal of the assassination of the former prime minister, Rafik Hariri.
In June 2011, Mikati took up the position yet again, only this time with a deal that was far more complex and a totally undefined role. Unlike 2005, when Mikati came with agreement of all parties to power and a regional and international cover, his second premiership came with disapproval and disagreements, albeit an international cover that overshadowed all regional preferences. Mikati’s acceptance of the role again came with the breaking of coalition with the March 14 movement and, primarily, with the Hariri block.
But unlike what most think, Mikati was never Hezbollah’s choice for premiership. Hezbollah could have voted in any other candidate with the majority that they commanded. Mikati was not even a consensus between regional actors. It was not in the interest of Iran, Syria, Qatar or Saudi Arabia to have Mikati for PM. Mikati assumed his premiership because Lebanon currently, with no godfather, happens to be under direct international parenting, and Mikati was among the few with a proven history in office that fit the bill.
But even with such international cover, Mikati has been susceptible to a lot of headaches and tests since taking office. With a tyrannical majority in his government, Mikati had been exposed to all kinds of political embezzlement, from all sides, both local and regional. As much as he tried to be mediator between factions, taking a centrist approach sometimes, and a neutralist position some other times, Mikati kept on failing everybody: Hezbollah, Hariri, Syria and Saudi Arabia.
