www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Old Idea For A New Time

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon,

Here is an idea that some of us Maronites have been bantering around for awhile, and I thought I would like to see what you all thought of this. In order to protect the rights of Christians in Lebanon, stabilize the political order and deconfessionize (remove religion as a factor for political office) politics.

In order to do all of this we propose that the Emirate under the Chehab family be brought back. The Emir would have all the powers that the President of Lebanon enjoys today, and maybe a few more. The Emir would be required to be a Maronite, but other than that no other religious requirement would imposed.

To many of us this would protect the interests of the Christians of Lebanon. It would further stabilize the executive office of the state. Right now every 6 years there is a fight for who should be president. With a emir we would know who the next ruler is going to be. (NB within Arab Culture we do not have primogeniture)

Tell me what you all think.

Fush BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Yuhannon

I don't think the Muslim community would be very happy with the idea of the man in charge must be a Christian of any sort.

In Christ:
Seraphim

I thought that *was* the current order of things in Lebanon (but it's been many years since I paid serious attention to the happenings there). IIRC, the President must be a Maronite Christian; the Speaker of the Parliament, a Shi'a Muslim; and the Prime Minister, a Sunni Muslim. Did that change?

Shlomo Seraphim,

Penthaetria is correct. Under Lebanon's National Pact the President must be a Maronite. The Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim and the Speaker of the Parliament a Shi'a Muslim.

The Emirs up until they where removed by the Ottoman's was a Maronite from the Chehab family. Therefore, the only change would be the powers of the president would be reinvested into the Emir.

Fush BaShlomo,
Yuhannon