This Christmas, Lebanese politicians are spreading holiday cheer – so long as it fits their interests and the cameras are rolling. Politicians have found the time in their not-so-busy schedules to host parties and distribute gifts, suggesting to children they are Santa.
A story on the Future Movement distributing 600 gifts to children in Achrafieh for the sixth successive year could have passed unnoticed, like other trivial stories on politicians’ so-called charity work. Yet one of the Hariri bloc’s MPs, Serge Torsarkissian, had something else in mind. He introduced children to an exceptional Santa: his son Berge Torsarkissian.
In the photo accompanying the story, you can see the joyful looks on the faces of Future Movement officials and local mayors, all proud of His Excellency’s child. How sweet of him to “grant” a gift to a much taller girl with his father cheering him from behind! What could make a needy kid happier than receiving a gift from another child, one that is not so needy? What could make parents more joyful than watching the son of His Excellency lavish their child with generosity?
It was enough for Berge, a free spirit like his father, to say “I prefer a needy child to get my gift” for the crowd to erupt in applause, and for Serge, the proud father, to break into tears. Maybe next time he will bring his son along on electoral campaigns, but they would probably distribute oil cans instead of toys.
Meanwhile, MP Michel Pharaon hosted for the third consecutive year a children’s Christmas party at Michel Murr Stadium, far from Achrafieh. Instead of going to the children, Pharaon had the children come to him, costing their parents multiple times the price of the gift.
Public Philanthropy
Since extending their mandate, Lebanese politicians’ agendas have been empty; they can’t effectively influence the situation in Syria, and the situation in Lebanon is out of their hands. Christmas gives them an opportunity to return to the spotlight. They mobilize local constituencies and make phone calls to local figures and schools, hoping to gather as many children as possible. Nothing will stand in their way, not even the Christmas spirit. They will do anything to enter children’s hearts and parents’ houses.
All of a sudden, children have become irresistible to our philanthropist politicians. They want to play with them and hold them, while, on any other occasion, the children wouldn’t have received a second look.
Often, Christmas gifts are considered “electoral objectives.” Political candidates can’t keep their “humanitarian gestures” a secret and seek to announce them to the world. Electoral Christmas activities are quite different from other routine festivals and services. Some like MP Pharaon want children and their parents to gather near to get their $3 gift. Others like Communication Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui and Free Patriotic Movement candidate Ziad Abs transform themselves into Santas, traveling from school to school on a red bus distributing gifts.
But, apparently, Sehnaoui and Abs’ reindeers only led them to two schools this year compared to last year’s five due to a low budget. Most gifts distributed by politicians are almost the same: Barbie dolls made in china, painting kits, wooden bats, plastic home appliances for girls, and plastic guns for boys.
Northern Metn is different from other districts. Here, politicians get more into the action whenever they feel the heat of competition. Ambitious candidates find no shame in taking advantage of such occasions to reinforce their presence on the ground. This year, Yad Mamdouda Association (Extended Hand Association) broke its alliance with MP Nabil Nicolas. The always optimistic candidate Jean Abu Jawde, who withdrew from elections for failing to gain the support of leading parties, chose to “extend his hand” to MP Sami Gemayel this year.
Abu Jawde distributed gifts to small children at the Mrouj School while Sami took care of the grown ups. Meanwhile, MP Nicolas, a former Abu Jawde ally, chose eight poor children from Metn to accompany him on a trip to Disneyland in France.
Precious Gifts
As is typical every year, candidate Sarkis Sarkis doesn’t bother distributing gifts to children. For him, it is useless since he is financing the makers of the electoral lists. He only sends gifts to his hometown fellows in Qornat Shehwan and its neighborhood.
And while March 14 Catholic candidate Michel Mecattaf was watching politicians entertain children at Michel Murr Stadium surrounded by his political allies, his ex-wife Nicole Amine Gemayel was inaugurating her annual exhibition in Bikfaya, attended by all the Gemayel family, where she announced “Christmas is ours.” This year, Mecattaf addressed children directly, mentioning “Syrian children refugees who were deprived of the holiday’s joy.” He said, “Lebanon deeply sympathizes with those children, deploying its best efforts to help them, but the situation has gotten out of our hands, and it‘s now threatening our citizens.”
Children put away their toys, applauded, then went back to play.
Free Patriotic Movement Catholic candidate George Abboud distributed lavish gifts and hosted many Christmas parties. People in Khenchara, Jouret al-Ballout, and Dbayeh couldn’t believe their eyes when they opened their presents to find PlayStations, Swatch watches, and expensive scarves. Abboud wanted to be different, and that’s what he got!
Candidate Jad Sawaya wouldn’t miss a chance to play the role of Jezzine’s own Santa Claus – but with a tie. He is the star of OTV, always buying stocks and giving away free cars and houses. He hires employees and fires others, makes up a social TV show for his wife and another for himself. Sawaya organized a field trip for Jezzine’s children, taking them to the circus in Beirut.
Meanwhile, Jezzine MP Ziad Aswad seemed absent this Christmas for the first time in 15 years for private “health, family, and financial reasons.”
In Zahle, Myriam Skaff, wife of former MP Elie Skaff, managed her husband’s Christmas activities. She launched the “biggest Christmas decorations in the Middle East.” At least, that’s what they say here in Zahle. Over 8,000 trees were decorated, and about 4,500 gifts were distributed.
Marada supporters gifted their leader Suleiman Frangieh a new office for the movement in Hadath, and Free Patriotic Movement MPs held a celebration at the Sagesse School in Beirut’s Furn al-Chebbak. Kataeb sent greeting cards to its followers, while the Lebanese Forces offered their supporters wine.
Interestingly, a Lebanese Forces official said that the party’s leader Samir Geagea canceled this year’s Christmas and New Year parties in Maarab.
Saida Holiday Spirit
The Future Movement just can’t stop surprising us. The movement was pleased to reveal the Hariri Foundation’s Christmas tree decorated with a thousand lights in Saida, the city of Bahia Hariri, Ahmad al-Assir, and “coexistence.” Maybe they should have broadcast a new Fadl Shaker Christmas song to further consolidate Christian-Muslim coexistence.
This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition.