Is the Lebanese revolution legitimate?

[AtheistForJesus]

Although thousands of Lebanese people have taken to the streets to demand new, clean government,
the recent election results and FPM's counter-demonstration have proven that there are just as many people, if not more, who do not oppose the current political establishment.

In a democratic country, do you believe protesters should respect the will of voters and not try to take through the street what they failed to take at the ballot box?
Or are you of the opinion that the current economic situation is grave enough that it justifies overthrowing a 'corrupt' government, no matter how many people support it?

AFJ,
currently running for moderator

https://www.oroom.org/forum/threads/round-1-vote-for-your-6-potential-moderators.56502/page-2#post-2056739

 

[ميسوبلنس]

It's not legitimate because...

The proper way to protest is to sit at home and don't go to work for a whole month.
Not get in the way of people.
If 2 million + people do that, the government will surely fall as all its vital sectors would be empty or lacking workers.

You don't have to stick to the ballout box if something critical is happening to your country. Lebanon is on the brink of collapse as a whole, so that adds legitimacy to rejecting voting results and asking for immediate change.

 

[Dynamis]

Although thousands of Lebanese people have taken to the streets to demand new, clean government,
the recent election results and FPM's counter-demonstration have proven that there are just as many people, if not more, who do not oppose the current political establishment.

In a democratic country, do you believe protesters should respect the will of voters and not try to take through the street what they failed to take at the ballot box?
Or are you of the opinion that the current economic situation is grave enough that it justifies overthrowing a 'corrupt' government, no matter how many people support it?

AFJ,
currently running for moderator

https://www.oroom.org/forum/threads/round-1-vote-for-your-6-potential-moderators.56502/page-2#post-2056739

I always say it is ballots or bullets. Make a choice. I will tell you to ALWAYS make change in the ballot box, otherwise, bullets will be flying one way or another; On purpose or by mistake. We have seen what civil war does for generations of Lebanese. Walah Haram to do it again to another generation.

Living under a democratically elected imperfect regime is much better than a civil war. I will say that every day. In Lebanon, we had an election 1.5 year ago. There were winners and losers in all groups. Losers can try again in 2.5 years. They can also demonstrate in public places, but they should never ever be able to close streets or institutions.

The reality is that the "Silent Majority" is silent. They sit at home, and dont speak up on Social Media. However, they are fed up with this situation in Lebanon and you will certainly see that in the ballot boxes.

 

[Lebmonage]

I think the revolution is legitimate. But its politicization, hijacking it (by political forces within and outside) and changing its objectives and being leaderless have turned it into something to be cautious about. No more enthusiasm on my part, compared to the first week when it all started.

 

[dyyyy]

So you were against revolts during the syrian occupation ?
Because back then also the MPs were democratically elected.

 

[elias-aj]

So you were against revolts during the syrian occupation ?
Because back then also the MPs were democratically elected.

Are you serious ? Democratically elected under the syrian occupation ? I don't know what to answer anymore with you guys...

 

[AtheistForJesus]

No more enthusiasm on my part, compared to the first week when it all started.

Do you mean compared to the pre-sa7sou7 week?

 

[dyyyy]

Are you serious ? Democratically elected under the syrian occupation ? I don't know what to answer anymore with you guys...

ah so this was a democratic election? with all the videos of box changes, the 1000 violation reported by LADE, the admission of parties of paying money and ticketd for votes....

 

[The_FPMer]

ah so this was a democratic election? with all the videos of box changes, the 1000 violation reported by LADE, the admission of parties of paying money and ticketd for votes....

Until 7 PM, the turnout was in the 35 %. They had to scrub the deadline and pressure people into voting. Most Lebanese didn't want to cast a ballot for anyone. And they wonder why the revolution happened and the people are insulting the politicians.

 

[elias-aj]

ah so this was a democratic election? with all the videos of box changes, the 1000 violation reported by LADE, the admission of parties of paying money and ticketd for votes....

Okay so it was democratic under the Syrian boots, and the vermins were democratically elected. You’re exhausting really

 

[cedarheart]

In a democratic society any protest, regardless of its form and demands, and regardless of the number of protesters (even if it's a one-person protesting) is a legitimate one.
The right to protest is a fundamental human right!
The actions and means of the protesters can be questioned as whether they are legal or not but the protest itself is always legitimate.

Do people lose their right to expression and protest because of election results? Absolutely not! Elections don't mean that the people have given the elected a free run for the length of the term. In a democracy, people are the source of power, they keep the elected in check and can at any moment and for any reason change their mind and withdraw the mandate they gave to the elected (that's why in countries that respect their people, parliament is dissolved and new elections are held whenever the country is in a political crisis or deadlock).
It's not the people's duty to respect elections results, it's the elected moral obligation to respect the people's and the promises they made and the agenda based on which people granted them their votes.
(This opinion is despite the assumption of fair and clean elections with fair representation.)