Frem’s Speech During Parliamentary Debate on Government Policy

The Chairman of Project Watan’s Executive Board, MP Neemat Frem, delivered a speech during the parliamentary session dedicated to discussing government policy, focusing on two main themes – one political, the other socio-economic.

He began: “The first part of my address is directed at the government, and through it, to all Lebanese – to this generation of Lebanese – from the perspective of Greater Lebanon entering its second centenary. I want to say this: in the past, it was researchers, thinkers, and concerned parties who worried about the fate of the Lebanese entity. But today, all Lebanese share this concern – and that is an undeniable reality.”

He added: “What I want to emphasize is that we now bear a tremendous responsibility, because the entity is truly in danger. This is no minor matter. The idea of a ‘failed entity,’ which dates back to 1920, is increasingly taking root within decision-making circles. And this is not mere conjecture – it is based on careful analysis and corroborated by multiple sources. It is as though, over the past five years, a dossier has been deliberately built portraying Lebanon as a failed state.”

The lawmaker continued: “The first indicator of this failure is the paralysis in decision-making mechanisms that we’ve seen over the past twenty years. The second is the financial collapse – a major blow to both the entity and the Lebanese people. Third, the Beirut Port explosion – from the mismanagement of the port prior to the blast, to the mishandling of the investigation afterward – all of it fits squarely within the framework of a failed state. And finally, what could be described as the straw that broke the camel’s back: the decision taken jointly by the three presidents to commit to Resolution 1701+ and begin the process of placing all weapons in Lebanon under the exclusive authority of the Lebanese state – specifically, the central government. This has now become a major national commitment.”

Frem went on to explain that the weapons issue is no longer merely technical, but has become directly linked to the credibility of the Lebanese entity. “From this standpoint, I address all concerned parties, especially my colleagues in Hezbollah, whose remarks today I have listened to attentively. We appreciate what they have said. But let us be clear: no one is demanding that the weapons be handed over to Israel, nor that they be destroyed. What is being demanded is that they be placed under the authority of the Lebanese Army. A clear message must be sent to the government, the President of the Republic, and all relevant authorities: these weapons must be handed over to the Lebanese Army, because the Lebanese entity is facing a grave and imminent threat.”

The MP then transitioned to the second part of his speech: “There are other issues where the government can act quickly, constructively, and decisively. My first question to the government – and to the Prime Minister in particular – concerns the waste crisis. Is it conceivable that we are still unable to resolve our garbage problem? This is a relatively straightforward issue. We already have Law No. 81 from 2018 – the Solid Waste Management Law. That was the first piece of legislation passed by Parliament that year. This law calls for the establishment of a Higher Authority for Solid Waste Management, which is supposed to oversee this entire sector. On behalf of all Lebanese, I call on the government to establish this authority without further delay.”

He continued: “The second issue I want to raise, with both the government and this esteemed Parliament, is the matter of end-of-service indemnities for private-sector employees. If the delay in adopting the necessary measures continues, the few remaining companies in Lebanon risk going bankrupt. We all know employees who have served for 20, 30, even 40 years, and now, as they reach retirement, there is no clarity whatsoever on their end-of-service compensation. This is unacceptable. We must quickly pass a clear and fair law that defines how these indemnities are calculated and paid – in order to protect workers’ rights and, at the same time, safeguard what remains of Lebanon’s private sector.”

Frem then addressed a third urgent concern: “The third issue I call on the government to prioritize is the water crisis. We are entering the summer season under the looming threat of a water disaster, as many regions across Lebanon are experiencing severe shortages. I therefore urge the government to declare a state of water emergency and to treat this issue as a top national priority. We must all ask ourselves seriously: What can we do? What must we do?”

He concluded: “The fourth issue I want to raise is addressed to the Ministry of Energy and the Council of Ministers:  the $100 tax imposed on diesel fuel constitutes a serious burden on the productive sectors – from bakeries to private generators, industry, and agriculture. Diesel is the lifeblood of production.  A 3-cent increase per kilowatt-hour translates to an additional $100 on household electricity bills and a 15% cost hike in industry. I call for an immediate reconsideration of this decision, before it further weighs down the population and weakens the country’s already fragile productive capacity.”