Much to say about this elections, but one element stands out: a return to the prev March 8-14 fault lines. LF is now the largest Christian party, can comfortably claim confessional representation alongside the Phalanges & its allies. A sizeable anti-Hezb Sunni bloc seems to be in Hezbollah & its allies will frame these results as a U.S. led conspiracy against them, citing spending and mainstream media bias. Already a conspiratorial campaign against NGOs has been underway for a number of weeks.

Thread on the growing talk about the next political steps in light of Macron’s trip to Beirut this week.

Sources say that Hezbollah has shifted its hardline position on the government, paving the way for concessions and a more inclusive approach. 1/7 The Lebanese PM’s call for early parliamentary elections is an indicator of this potential change, and so is the lack of a Hezbollah-led crackdown on demonstrators today. 2/7

Thread on the political attempts to dodge accountability for the #Beirut_Explosion.

The institutional corruption, and lack of any accountability, and its implication on governance/negligence, are at the heart of this tragedy. Officials have already started exchanging blame through their advisors and appointees, showing evidence of warnings, and many here expect/fear: this catastrophe will be pinned on a low key employee(s), thus absolving the entire political class from any responsibility.