Lebanon... Salam's "secret" visit raises controversy between supporters and critics. The visit made by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to the western town of Zawtar in southern Lebanon sparked political and popular controversy, after it took place without prior coordination with the municipality, according to what the mayor confirmed, at a time when supporters of the visit saw that it carried a sovereign and moral message at a sensitive stage in the south.
Among the critical voices, academic researcher Hossam Matar also considered, in statements to local media, that “Nawaf Salam’s visit to Zawtar al-Gharbiya and the raising of the Lebanese flag there came at an “inappropriate time,” describing the scene as a “political show” that does not take into account the suffering of the people of the south after the war.
Details
Between the objection of the municipality and a number of residents to the lack of coordination, and supporters’ insistence that the visit carries a sovereign dimension and a political message in its timing, Nawaf Salam’s visit to Zawtar al-Gharbiyya reflected the extent of the division in the approach to any official move in the south, where security considerations mix with political and local sensitivities.
Saad believed that “Salam’s visit to Zawtar al-Gharbiya, as the first prime minister to enter the town after recent developments and raise the Lebanese flag there, was supposed to be received as a moral step aimed at raising the morale of the people of the south.”
He considered that "the objection to not informing some parties of the visit reflects, in his opinion, political positions rather than an objection to a legal violation," stressing that "municipalities are administratively subject to the Ministry of the Interior, which works within the framework of Cabinet decisions, and there is no legal text obligating the Prime Minister to coordinate in advance with the municipality before visiting any Lebanese region."
During his visit, Salam planted the Lebanese flag in the soil of Gharbiya Zawtar, in a move that carried symbolic connotations. He said in a speech: “I would like to address a word to all the Lebanese, especially to our people in the south, from the town of Gharbiya Zawtar.
He said: “It is surprising that a prime minister, who is the highest executive authority in the country, is asked if he has asked a mayor for permission to visit a Lebanese town.
Statements
“I would like to address a word to all the Lebanese, especially to our people in the south, from the western town of Zawtar. “This is a national moment that carries great political and moral dimensions, because it represents the beginning of the Israeli withdrawal from our land.”
“The Prime Minister, whose convoy passed among the people of the town, had to stop for a moment and raise their morale, especially in light of the difficult circumstances that the people of the region are experiencing.”
He said: “It is surprising that a prime minister, who is the highest executive authority in the country, is asked if he has asked a mayor for permission to visit a Lebanese town.
Between the objection of the municipality and a number of residents to the lack of coordination, and supporters’ insistence that the visit carries a sovereign dimension and a political message in its timing, Nawaf Salam’s visit to Zawtar al-Gharbiyya reflected the extent of the division in the approach to any official move in the south, where security considerations are mixed with political and local sensitivities. Salam's "secret" visit raises controversy between supporters and critics.
Saad believed that "Salam's visit to Zawtar al-Gharbiya, as the first prime minister to enter the town after recent developments and raise the Lebanese flag there, was supposed to be received as a moral step aimed at raising the morale of the people of the south.". Salam's "secret" visit raises controversy between supporters and critics.
During his visit, Salam planted the Lebanese flag in the soil of Western Zawtar, in a move that carried symbolic connotations, and said in a speech: “I would like to address a word to all the Lebanese, especially to our people in the south, from the western town of Zawtar. Salam’s “secret” visit raises controversy between supporters and critics.
He said: “It is surprising that a prime minister, who is the highest executive authority in the country, is asked if he asked permission from a mayor to visit a Lebanese town. Salam’s “secret” visit raises controversy between supporters and critics.
The visit made by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to the western town of Zawtar in southern Lebanon sparked political and popular controversy, after it took place without prior coordination with the municipality, according to what the mayor confirmed, at a time when supporters of the visit saw that it carried a sovereign and moral message at a sensitive stage in the south. Salam's "secret" visit raises controversy between supporters and critics.
Among the critical voices, academic researcher Hossam Matar also considered, in statements to local media, that “Nawaf Salam’s visit to Zawtar al-Gharbiya and the raising of the Lebanese flag there came at an “inopportune time,” describing the scene as a “political show” that does not take into account the suffering of the people of the south after the war. Salam’s “secret” visit raises controversy between supporters and critics.
