Lebanon's government resigns following deadly explosion and resulting clashes
레바논 내각 총사퇴…베이루트 폭발참사 책임
Every single member of Lebanon's government, including the Prime Minister, have stepped down over last week's devastating blast at the port in Beirut.
This comes as anti-government protests have been rocking the city with security forces firing tear gas at protesters.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
On Sunday,... a number of Lebanese ministers stepped down,... taking responsibility for the deadly explosion in Beirut which killed over 150 people,... left many more injured and countless families homeless.
Come Monday,... Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced his resignation following a meeting where the entirety of the nation's ministers expressed their desire to step down as well.
It was a decision Lebanese President Michel Aoun accepted.
"President (Michel Aoun) thanked Prime Minister (Hassan Diab) and the ministers, and asked them to continue taking care of business meanwhile a new government is formed. "
The now-former prime minister,... who was appointed in January after months of deadlock insisted his government had "gone to great lengths to lay out a road map to save the country".
However... according to Diab,... corruption in the nation is "bigger than the state" itself,... and was what prevented change.
With the mass resignation,... the nation's parliament will have to decide on a new prime minister,... which many say will unlikely to be a smooth or quick process due to Lebanon's complex political system.
The current political system mandates that the presidency must go to a Christian, the prime minister, a Sunni Muslim,... and the speaker of the parliament must be a Shiite Muslim.
It's a system many have blamed for the country's political instability and division,... which is why protesters are continuing to take to the streets despite the complete disintegration of the widely-detested government.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
Every single member of Lebanon's government, including the Prime Minister, have stepped down over last week's devastating blast at the port in Beirut.
This comes as anti-government protests have been rocking the city with security forces firing tear gas at protesters.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
On Sunday,... a number of Lebanese ministers stepped down,... taking responsibility for the deadly explosion in Beirut which killed over 150 people,... left many more injured and countless families homeless.
Come Monday,... Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced his resignation following a meeting where the entirety of the nation's ministers expressed their desire to step down as well.
It was a decision Lebanese President Michel Aoun accepted.
"President (Michel Aoun) thanked Prime Minister (Hassan Diab) and the ministers, and asked them to continue taking care of business meanwhile a new government is formed. "
The now-former prime minister,... who was appointed in January after months of deadlock insisted his government had "gone to great lengths to lay out a road map to save the country".
However... according to Diab,... corruption in the nation is "bigger than the state" itself,... and was what prevented change.
With the mass resignation,... the nation's parliament will have to decide on a new prime minister,... which many say will unlikely to be a smooth or quick process due to Lebanon's complex political system.
The current political system mandates that the presidency must go to a Christian, the prime minister, a Sunni Muslim,... and the speaker of the parliament must be a Shiite Muslim.
It's a system many have blamed for the country's political instability and division,... which is why protesters are continuing to take to the streets despite the complete disintegration of the widely-detested government.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.