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MP Boutros Harb
Excerpts from a recent interview

At the top of the agenda, Harb wants to see an overhaul of Lebanon's democratic system. What this effectively means is the passage of a new electoral law that would ensure fair representation through a proportional system.

Harb acknowledged, however, that such a sea-change in Lebanon's underlying system of representation would take time to implement properly and would have to be accompanied by a voter education campaign.

Turning to the persistent issue of corruption, Harb stressed that public institutions had to be separated from the influence of political leaders, and that a strong monitoring and accountability system needed to be created.

Of course, such reforms would all be for naught should Lebanon's economy falter or collapse under the continuing weight of a $33 billion public debt, equal to almost 190 percent of annual Gross Domestic Product.

The presidential candidate's response is clear: Lebanon must grow out of its problems.

"I believe that a purely finance-focused plan is not enough," he said. "We need an economic plan. We need to enhance production. Our debt servicing is increasing by 10 percent (yearly), while growth is (rising) by 2 percent. If growth can exceed debt servicing then the problem will be resolved," he said.

Harb argued that this would only occur if a series of reforms were finally realized, including a re-evaluation of taxation policies to encourage foreign investments and a drastic reduction in production costs.

He was vague, however, in specifying how production costs might be reduced. "The solution is not easy, it is extremely difficult, but it is not impossible like many are preaching. Some people have simply given up, but with proper planning and serious work, anything can be achieved," he said.

But with many potential candidates proposing similar programs, how does Harb set himself apart from the pack?

"Believe me, I would much rather remain within the ranks of the opposition then become a president if it means losing my legitimacy," he said in response. Implicitly, the message is: The program might be the same, but the man is different. In candidate Harb's world, the reforms really boil down to a question of will-power and an unbreakable commitment to principles.

"Running for president is a great responsibility, it is also a great risk, which I am fully aware of. If the coming president fails, the country will collapse. There is no room for failure," he said.

When Harb ran for the presidency in 1998 - the year that President Emile Lahoud was elected - he reiterated to the press at the time that his candidacy was more about symbolism than an actual race for the top post.

"(My candidacy) was and remains symbolic in the sense that as a Lebanese citizen, I want my fellow citizens to choose, and I categorically refuse to see the decision taken behind the scenes," he said.

This time around though, Harb will not be happy with a purely symbolic candidacy: He wants to win.

And, if you believe his read of the current political situation in Lebanon, now may just be the time. "In 1998 relations between Syria and the Christian opposition (in Lebanon) were extremely strained, but this has changed greatly," he said. "There is a marked improvement in the relations between Syria and the Christians here, especially since the Maronite Patriarch stood strongly against the Syria Accountability Act."

As a prominent member of the Qornet Shehwan Christian opposition group, Harb has repeatedly asked for a re-evaluation of relations between Syria and Lebanon, an outright withdrawal of Syrian troops and a halt to Syria's grip over Lebanese politics.

These positions, he said, will not change when and if he is elected president.

However, despite his criticism toward Lebanon's neighbor, Harb said he believed that the country had everything to gain by taking advantage of what he characterized as the unprecedented openness shown by Syria in recent months regarding the presidential elections. "It will not yield us anything to say that they are lying and just give up. We should act," he said.

Although Syrian President Bashar Assad, and more recently, Syria's Foreign Minister Farouq Sharaa, have both publicly said that it will be up to the Lebanese to decide who the next president will be, the statements have been received with skepticism by some observers in Lebanon who say that Syria will indeed have the final say in the matter, as has been the case in the past.

As for Lahoud, Harb explained bluntly: "Lahoud said that he was coming to repair the situation and implement reform. He was perhaps well-intentioned, but what did he achieve? Not very much."

In Harb's view, Lahoud failed because he lacked the assistance of a competent team, not to mention a clear political vision. "As a result, the state was transformed into a bickering arena and state institutions were completely paralyzed," he said.

Some observers agree with Harb, saying, in effect, that Lahoud's military background left him without an adequate political base or understanding to lead an often divided country.

"The main problem of (Lebanon) is that our leaders have found it easier to surrender the decision-making process to Syria. It's much more convenient for them to just fuse with Syria, but Lebanon must regain its position on the political map," he said.

Although Harb, like other members of Qornet Shehwan, group, is often accused of mildness or over-cautiousness by more adamant opposition figures here and in exile, he maintains that he is unshaken by such allegations.

"This is my style and I believe that I am acting in the best way I can to serve my country. If others prefer to be more aggressive, then it is their choice, but my priority is to serve my country, and I will not compromise on that," he said.

If elected president, Harb said that he would endorse the resistance. "No one is contesting the right of people to resist the occupier. It is perfectly normal and I believe that everyone should back it," he said.

His position on the matter, is not without nuances however. In the case of the disputed Shebaa Farms, which Israel still occupies, Harb said that the area should not be used as a tool of pressure in the hands of Syria.

"I believe that Lebanon and Syria should delineate their borders and from there on we can know what we are fighting for, but before then, our interests are blurred," he said.

Source: The Daily Star