The demand for reform has echoed across every presidential term and government since the Two-Year War and its aftermath, which extended until 1990, and has persisted through all subsequent administrations up to the present day. During President Amine Gemayel’s tenure, the government was granted exceptional legislative powers by Parliament to expedite decision-making. Under Prime Minister Chafik Wazzan, 161 legislative decrees were issued, addressing critical areas such as security, defense, the judiciary, public administration, education, media, development, infrastructure, social security, finance, currency, and the economy. However, the subsequent government of Prime Minister Rashid Karamé overturned 29 of these decrees and amended 20 others.

Since then, Parliament has fiercely guarded its legislative authority, refusing to delegate exceptional powers to any government. As a result, while Parliament has been prolific in passing laws—even during periods when it should have functioned as an electoral body, it has often done a half job, passing laws requiring implementing decrees, leaving the executive branch to handle implementation despite the knowledge that governments, often a mirror of Parliament’s own political divisions, would struggle to enact them. This has led to a backlog of unimplemented legislation, gathering dust in ministry drawers.

We just want to highlight the dozens of laws that remain shelved due to the absence of implementation decrees. Now, with the pressing need for reform, we urge ministers to revisit these laws, dust them off, and issue the necessary decrees to save time and serve the public interest.

It must be acknowledged that numerous obstacles have hindered reform efforts. Chief among them are the prioritization of individual interests over the nation’s welfare, the pervasive influence of corruption networks, and the ability of armed groups to paralyze progress whenever legal mechanisms threaten their interests.

However, the current circumstances offer a glimmer of hope. The Prime Minister has declared that the government has already begun its reform agenda. The swift formation of the government, achieved in record time, is seen as a positive indicator of its commitment to rapid action.

Reform cannot be achieved without a functioning government, and while this administration has only recently gained its vote of confidence, the challenges ahead remain daunting. Reform is no easy task, even with the best intentions, especially in a country where the past half-century has been marked by prolonged chaos, interrupted only briefly by periods of security and economic stability.

Yet, the time for reform is now. It must begin with critical appointments in the security, judicial, and financial sectors. The leaders of these institutions will set the tone for their credibility and determine the pace of the reform process.

It has become clear that reform must prioritize the following key areas:

1. Restricting the use of weapons to state institutions, ensuring that no group, faction, or militia remnants can operate armed activities on Lebanese soil. This is urgent, as the proliferation of weapons among civilians has fueled crime and security incidents across the country. Disarmament must be paired with robust diplomatic efforts to compel Israel to withdraw from the Lebanese territories it still occupies.

2. Empowering security agencies to fulfill their responsibilities, each within its jurisdiction, including securing land, sea, and air borders.

3. Appointing trusted judicial bodies. The judiciary still retains a sound core, and it is this core that must be relied upon to cleanse itself of corruption and inefficiency.

4. Establishing credible financial and monetary bodies to restore public confidence in these institutions and safeguard citizens’ rights, particularly considering the failures of the financial and banking sector, which have deprived people of their savings.

5. Creating effective regulatory and administrative bodies to ensure the rule of law is respected and applied equally to all.

Only after these foundational steps can subsequent reforms follow. These include educational, health, social, and economic overhauls, as well as a comprehensive review of the national educational curriculum.

President Joseph Aoun has begun his diplomatic outreach with a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His mission is to reassure regional partners that Lebanon’s commitment to reform is genuine and that establishing a secure environment is a top priority. He is also aware that international support will only materialize if Lebanon takes concrete steps to help itself by implementing the commitments made by previous governments, particularly in the areas of security and broader reform.

Reform is undeniably challenging, but it is essential for Lebanon’s survival and for laying the groundwork for a brighter future. The time for empty promises is over; the time for decisive action is now.