The unbelievable delay in the formation of a government and adoption of an appropriate electoral system in Lebanon is indicative of the fundamental flaws in the country's sectarian political system.

Civil society is seeking to promote, albeit slowly, an alternative to the current political system that will transform Lebanon from a framework of religious sects into a country of citizens. This delay and the prevailing discourse are stalling the creation of an enlightened, new system of governance to protect the unity of Lebanon in addition to its inviolability amidst the political storms characterizing the region at this juncture.

This delay and the noisy debates around it among the political establishment are damaging to the vision, aspirations, interests and role of Lebanon as an example of authentic democracy and liberal values as it has always been.

The moment renders Lebanon vulnerable, but the political elite seem oblivious to the risks that they are engendering and continue to obstruct the potential corrective required for empowering the full, equal citizenship sought by the Lebanese as demonstrated by the new activism advocated by civil society, human rights organizations, trade unions, and women’s groups.