Dear Lebanese Women, Dear Lebanese Men

I am happy to address you today. I have received numerous requests from public activists and leading political analysts, as well as cultural, economic, and academic figures from Lebanon and the diaspora to serve as a candidate for the Presidential elections.

Today, it is an honor to announce my candidacy for the Lebanese Presidential elections.

In fact, it is my sense of loyalty to Lebanon which convinced me to accept this responsibility, based on my deepest faith in this country rooted in history, and my commitment to the People of Lebanon who have filled the world with their energy and their innovative spirit.

I am a candidate from Freike, a small village located in Northern Metn.

I am the daughter of the Rihani family who grew up in the Freike home, where I learned to believe in Lebanon, and where the love of the Lebanese population was a basic principle. I learned to consider the multitude of its religions and the diversity of its beliefs as sacred, and to appreciate wholeheartedly the culture of mutual trust and respect, and the spirit of its citizens to perfect the principles of living together.

My candidacy is:

For all Lebanese, from the North to the South, from Beirut to the Beqaa.

For all the Lebanese population, living in Lebanon and abroad, in different continents, from America, to Europe, to Australia, to the Arab world and Africa.

For women, for their dignity and their rights in order to reinforce their role and broaden their participation in public life and in decision making.

For every Lebanese, dreaming of a nation where dignity is protected, freedom is respected, and the future is guaranteed.

For the youth, the arsenal of our wealth, our tomorrow, and the reservoir of our hope; and for the possibility of guaranteeing the required conditions for our youth to stay in Lebanon.

For the eventuality of creating opportunities to allow our youth to blossom, take initiatives, and accomplish successful projects.

For those whose money has disappeared, who live in need, and aspire to ensure the most basic living conditions for their dignity and that of their children.

For the women and men who believe in this country; for those who have the ambition of a better future; for those who aspire to see radical reform; and solid structural change, in addition to a real institutional restoration away from propaganda.

For the preservation of Lebanon’s dignity, for highlighting Lebanon’s cultural heritage and innovations; for encouraging and supporting the continuous flow of new and innovative ideas by Lebanese, that empower Lebanon to have a unique and an effective presence in the world.

For one united nation, which transcends all divisions, and respects the particularities of all its components, freeing us from despair; and creating within us a determination and a will to face all internal conflicts as well as all external transgressors.

For a nation larger than its geographical surface because of its expatriates and innovators scattered in every corner of the world, these expatriates should be involved in the national political life and should be deeply integrated in the building of its future as they have always been and still are the safety valve of this country, and its lifeline during crises, disasters, and tragedies. These expatriates hold high the name of our country.

These are my solid principles; they will guide me and I will abide by them as the basis by which my decisions are made.

Dear Lebanese Women and Lebanese Men

Here is my vision:

Protect the Lebanese cultural identity which is based on freedom, pluralism, diversity as well as humanitarian and religious values that unify us.

Reinforce the democracy, which is based on equality, freedom of expression, of belief, and of assembly.

Respect the natural and vested rights of every Lebanese woman and Lebanese man, firmly oppose any breach of these rights, and work on addressing as many shortcomings as possible particularly regarding civil rights and women’s rights.

Establish the authority and the sovereignty of the State. This will take place by strengthening the State institutions, consolidating the total capacity of the State over its territory, and affirming the sovereignty of the State over the management of its affairs.

Guarantee the total independence of the judiciary body, which is a mandatory condition to implement Law and ensure justice.

Establish and guarantee the power and the readiness of military and security institutions, notably the Lebanese armed forces, and the Internal security forces, two institutions that are indispensable to impose the authority and the power of the state under the law.

Adopt good governance based on productivity, accountability, and transparency standards.

Separate the state institutions from partisan conflicts and confessional quotas by adopting harmonious and complete executive structure, and by isolating the work of the state from partisan conflicts, personal ambition, and ideological differences. The state and its institutions belong to the public sector and not the private one; whereby the public sector is governed competently, where the benefits are equally distributed among all Lebanese.

Establish communication among the Lebanese, without regard as to their individual beliefs or affiliations, to enhance civil peace and enforce the immunity of national belonging.

Set up mechanisms to strengthen the public dialogue and bring distances closer, particularly between the authorities and the Lebanese population. Such mechanisms contribute to the creation of public opinion regarding difficult issues, and reinforcing the participation of citizens in the decision making process as well as the surveillance of good governance.

Strengthen the role of the diaspora, and even broaden it regarding political decision-making and participation in internal recovery. The expatriates are indeed an intellectual and financial wealth, through their positions in power and their relational network. We have not yet begun to tap the productivity and capacity of the Lebanese diaspora.

My vision involves recognizing the historical and vital importance of Lebanon as an Arab country, and the necessity to continue strengthening the relationships between Lebanon and all Arab countries. I believe that it is necessary to strengthen the Arab dimension of Lebanon in order to contribute constructively and consolidate the role of the Arab League as well as reinforce Lebanon’s relation to every Arab country. Also, it is important to engage in the cooperation and coordination with the Arab region, where Lebanon continues to be a cultural lighthouse.

My vision also includes the necessity to understand globalization, as well as to elaborate strategies allowing Lebanon and its people to benefit on all levels, whether economic, cultural, or social. Based on the importance of the Lebanese diaspora and their powerful networks, Lebanon is capable of playing a unique role in establishing solid relations with many key players in the world.

My program is therefore based on four main points:

1- The Constitution

The Constitution (Ad-Doustour) is the basis of the Lebanese State. It can never be a mere point of view. Hence, it is necessary to inherently abide by the provisions of the constitution for the existence and the continuation of the nation. This requires full coordination and cooperation among the key constitutional institutions, particularly among the President of the Republic, the Government, and the Parliament, while respecting the principle of separation of powers.

The Constitution is my first and last reference.

As to the application of the suspended provisions within the Constitution; the solution to such issues should take place notwithstanding the equations of balance of powers and the political conflicts. The solutions are established through mechanisms that will help rally Lebanon’s population.

I recognize the aspirations of Lebanese citizens, and I will be working to accomplish as many as I can, among them:

• Participate in drafting an electoral law to replace the current law in order to guarantee a transparent and equitable representation of the Lebanese population.
• Work on drafting a law for political parties which contributes to the creation of a political life devoid of confessional conflicts and selfish ambitions, and which increases the chances to integrate the Lebanese in general in public life.
• Create a Senate and implement and extended administrative decentralization.

2- Justice and Equality

• The subject of the autonomy of the judiciary body is directly related to the principles of justice and equality, not only regarding the crime of the port of Beirut blast, but also regarding any illegal case and the fight against corruption.
• The judiciary body cannot accomplish its missions unless it is offered the full and complete autonomy it requires, and unless it is liberated from interventions, given the competences and abilities compatible with its capacity to establish justice and implement the law.
• It is thus important to instore the necessary legislations to guarantee a civil nation governed by equality in citizenship as per article 95 of the Constitution.
• I deem it as an urgent and non-negotiable matter to accomplish the investigations regarding the crime of the port of Beirut blast, and having the accused stand before the courts.

3- The Financial, Economic, Social, and Reform

If the Lebanese Parliament decides to elect me President, I promise to work to implement the plan for the protection of the deposits of 80% of resident and expatriate depositors. This matter is a priority within a general plan for the reconstruction of the Lebanese economy. This will certainly not be easy, but it is not impossible.

This general plan includes these key priorities:

• Speeding up the process of drafting a detailed agreement with the International Monetary Fund. This agreement will be the first step to stop the economic collapse, but most importantly it will pave the way for other international and Arab funds. These priority steps are linked to regaining trust in our country, a trust that will be insured by a decision to implement reforms and by a modality based on accountability and good governance.
• Nominating new administrative officers in all the State’s departments and institutions. This process is a part of the good governance plan based on the nomination of experts, without regard to political favoritism and utilitarian clientelism.
• Setting up a digital government to increase production and put an end to wasting time. We thus fight against corruption and facilitate the access of the Lebanese population to services, which would require a notable professional investment in the IT sector.
• Establishing a plan to deal with the monetary deficit in the state balance. This solution-oriented process is scheduled over a five-year period until the deficit becomes null.

I would like to confirm that fighting corruption is the first essential step in structural reform. We have talked about reforms for such a long time without effectively implementing it. Reform is urgent, it should be implemented based on several priorities, among them:

• Launching an initiative for the evaluation of the performance of the Banque du Liban (BdL) and the banking sector, and using the evaluation results in a collaborative and consultative approach with economic and monetary experts, will help to design a plan to restructure the BdL and the banking sector in accordance with international standards.
• Setting up an executive management plan for the development of the infrastructure of the public services, such as electricity, water, trash, the communication sector, the transportation network, and the maritime, air, and land services. There is an urgent need to finance this plan in an innovative way and to start its implementation.
• Drafting the legislations necessary for an environmental inclusive program which covers all the production and consumption steps in all economic sectors, and which is based on providing new and diverse job opportunities for the Lebanese youth.

Foreign Policies

As I have already mentioned, Lebanon respects the charter of the Arab League since it is a founding member. Lebanon also respects the charter and treaties of the United Nations since it is also a founding member. Therefore, I am convinced of the need for the neutrality of Lebanon regarding regional and international conflicts, and for strengthening its positive role in building constructive relationships with all countries which will help liberate decision-making at the national level and free it from the influence of regional and international conflicts.

Dear Lebanese Women and Lebanese Men

Lastly, I think that what Lebanon needs the most today is an innovative vision that paves the way to clear and attainable goals. Establishing a new management system and a collaborative political lifestyle will deliver Lebanon of its current crisis.

It is a vision characterized by a different method than the one which was adopted for the governance in Lebanon and the management of Lebanese State institutions.

This vision requires a courageous, farsighted, and expert leader, who aspires to create a larger interactive space between the citizens and the State, to change the tenor of political life, moving it away from personal conflicts, and ideological considerations. All priorities need to serve Lebanon’s higher interests. Public good must be the Compass.

My love for Lebanon motivated me to pursue my candidacy for the Presidency. My one and only objective through this candidacy is to serve the People of Lebanon.

My candidacy is not based on a desire to reach a position of prominence. I have in fact been working for Lebanon for decades, I will happily continue to do so. I will never stop.

Electing a president of the Lebanese Republic is our historical chance in this critical moment. This chance may be our last to make a change, prevent the collapse and take the country out of misery. Our choices must therefore be wise and serve the higher interest of Lebanon.

I present my candidacy to the Lebanese People through their representatives in the Parliament carrying with me my rich professional, cultural, and political heritage. I aspire to establish better living conditions, a free and dignified lifestyle, a space of security and stability for the Lebanese citizens, for Lebanese women and men, a free country where the ambitions of the youth are achievable.

I guarantee that, if it is God’s will for me to be President, I will be a responsible echo of the voices of the suffering, the tormented, and the distressed, as well as a faithful reflection of the voices of the productive, the successful, and the forward looking.

I have no political ambition. I am not a member of any party. I do not intend to establish a political party. My party is the People of Lebanon. Lebanon and its People are my cause and my faith wherever I go.

When there’s a will there’s a way, and when we identify the right path, the will gets stronger.

When there’s courage, difficulties vanish. When there’s dedicated competence and expertise, we can transform the impossible into the possible.

Reform starts at the top of the pyramid with the highest in the hierarchy. Selecting a President would be the beginning of the solution and the first step to achieve reform.

I am not one to believe that the presidency alone can achieve miracles. In fact, the presidency has to be complemented and has to interact with other state institutions, particularly the Cabinet and the Parliament, as well as all civil society.

My confidence in Lebanon’s recovery and reform is based on the resilience of its people.

A new spirit in the Presidency, will discard personal need and self-interest, and remain faithfully focused on Lebanon.

The one who takes on this responsibility must be wise, balanced, and have a clear vision that sees the big picture without sacrificing details.

The one who takes on this responsibility must lead in a consultative and collaborative way in order to free decisions from improvisation, impulsiveness, confusion, and populism.

Indeed, we must insist on wisdom and rationality.

My candidacy is a serious initiative to pave the way for change and reform. It is an initiative not to change power balances or to enter into the fray of political competition among different powers; rather it is to demonstrate to the Lebanese people the value of a different modality, a new narrative, and a new way of leading so that we can save Lebanon together.

My candidacy aims to transform the ineffective status quo where people bow to authority or their leaders and where citizens are dependent on a narrow network of political interests, into a relationship with responsible leaders who serve all the citizens of Lebanon.

Long live the Lebanese people!

Long live Lebanon!

May Rihani

Candidate for the Presidency of the Lebanese Republic.

Lebanon, on the 7th of September 2022