(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The so-called “Tomato Revolution,” organized by the Civil Movement for Accountability, mailed their Lebanese lawmakers boxes of tomatoes as a reminder of what will be coming if they extend Parliament’s mandate for the second time in less than two years.
On May 31, 2013, days before the scheduled parliamentary elections, MPs passed a draft law that extended their mandate for 17 months.
Activists lined up the road leading to Nejmeh Square in Downtown Beirut on that Friday, throwing tomatoes at SUVs and luxury vehicles as they made their way to the Parliament building to vote.
Instead of lining the streets, this year, the Civil Movement for Accountability sent a short notice in a small white box with a tomato inside. A sticker read, “No to extension.”
Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk called it a “funny idea” saying it was “their right to express themselves in politics.”
Despite their efforts, Machnouk says its highly unlikely that a parliamentary election can be held this November.
“From my position as an interior minister, I do not think that the security situation allows for the election to be held in the next months,” he said. “We are all seeing and living these security developments, as we observe the conflict reaching Lebanon. As a preliminary observation, the security situation will prevent the election from being held on time.”
The Parliamentary election is scheduled for November, but is likely to be delayed.
Video of tomatoes being thrown last year:
[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A13Fgdoch1U” width=”500″ height=”300″]