Lebanon’s long-standing corruption system, which has clung to power for years, has suspended the enforcement of dozens of crucial laws due to conflicts of interest and a scramble for political spoils.

This delay, however, is far from surprising. Lebanese citizens have grown accustomed to a government that operates without accountability, often selling and buying political favors. The extent of this disregard for the rule of law is evident in the government's failure to implement laws passed by the Parliament. The reason: a deliberate refusal to issue the necessary executive and regulatory texts required for their enforcement.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, however, is working to reverse this trend as Nidaa Al-Watan newspaper cited sources as saying that the latter has identified several laws still awaiting enforcement, hindering reform in various ministries. In response, he has swiftly issued letters to the relevant ministers, urging them to submit the required draft decrees and regulatory texts to facilitate the laws' implementation.

The Ministry of Economy, for example, has five laws pending executive texts, including legislation to establish a new governorate in Mount Lebanon, regulate the Rashid Karami Exhibition, and enforce the competition law. Sources question why the former minister failed to issue the required regulatory texts for these crucial pieces of legislation.

Meanwhile, in the Ministry of Environment, provisions within four laws await implementation, including the Environmental Protection Law and the Integrated Waste Management Law, both essential for addressing the country’s mounting environmental challenges.

Perhaps most surprising is the situation within the Ministry of Finance, where the number of active laws requiring executive texts is extensive. According to sources, 14 laws are still pending, including those related to financial markets, petroleum activities, and Law No. 240, which mandates a forensic audit for all recipients of government subsidies—whether in dollars or their equivalent in foreign currencies. Despite the critical nature of these laws, their enforcement has been delayed, with no explanation from the ministry.

In the Ministry of Telecommunications, the government has long been urged to complete the executive texts for the Law on Regulating Telecommunications Services across Lebanon, a delay that has significantly hindered the sector’s progress.

Similarly, the Ministry of Interior faces a backlog of six laws that have yet to be implemented, including the Civil Aviation Management Law, the new Traffic Law, Civil Defense regulations, and a law to define conditions for reobtaining Lebanese nationality. These laws are vital to the reform process, but regulatory texts remain unfinished, raising serious questions about the lack of progress.

In the Ministry of Health, eight laws remain pending, including legislation to regulate the nursing profession and the establishment of a National Drug Agency—both crucial to improving healthcare services in Lebanon.

The Ministry of Energy, meanwhile, has neglected to issue the required texts for several laws that could have revitalized the struggling sector. Among the most important are those regulating electricity, petroleum resources in marine waters, and distributed renewable energy production. Their delay is particularly concerning given Lebanon's dire need for energy reforms.

The Ministry of Public Works also has several laws awaiting implementation, including the Environmental Protection Law and Civil Aviation regulations, further emphasizing the scope of the delay in enforcing essential reforms.

The pressing question is why successive ministers have failed to put these laws into action. Why has there been such systematic obstruction of laws that were passed by Parliament?

Prime Minister Salam is determined to change this as sources confirm that he is committed to advancing the implementation of these laws, given their significant role in Lebanon’s recovery. Following the government's expected vote of confidence, Salam aims to prioritize reforms within the ministries, making necessary appointments and transfers based on the principle of placing the right person in the right position.

Accountability for past failures is crucial, with the need to avoid starting the next phase by brushing previous mistakes under the rug. The government’s commitment to reform must be transparent, addressing the obstacles that have stifled progress for far too long.

As Lebanon awaits the government’s vote of confidence, all eyes will be on how the reform process unfolds. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Lebanon can overcome years of mismanagement and begin the difficult road to recovery.

This is an English adaptation of an article originally published by Nidaa Al-Watan.