By Isaac J. Martín
The centrist, secular party was formed three years ago during a time sectarianism divided the country into 18 recognized religious communities.
Malek Kabrit, legislative coordinator of the group, told Efe the aim is "fighting corruption".
"First, we are going to wash the dirty rags at home," Kabrit said in
The movement was sparked by a government initiative to impose a fee on messaging apps such as WhatsApp, which was later withdrawn.
It has turned into a peaceful demonstration throughout the country calling for the fall of the entire government.
Kabrit, 54, said
"We only deal with Lebanese issues, not international causes," he added.
"What makes us different from the rest is that we are horizontal, not vertical.
"This means that others seek first the regional, then religion and, third, tradition and culture.
"We are from Akkar south to Baalbeck. We are only one
The revolution in the Mediterranean country has distinguished itself because the Lebanese have grabbed their flag, and not that of any party or religious affiliation, to wave it in the streets, moving away from the sectarianism that has plagued the country since the end of a 15-year civil war in 1990, and whose scars are still present on the walls of its buildings.
A level of pacifism has been seen since the beginning of the marches, stained by the death of a person shot by the Lebanese army last week.
Kabrit said: "There is not much difference between us and other parties such as the National Bloc.
"We are similar, intellectual people, same image, same cause.
"I don't think we are very different. We put our money and our heart."
Its founder Émile Eddé emigrated to
The smiling young man, who was one of those who relaunched the party in
The current government is governed by a system in which the president must be a Christian, the prime minister Sunni Muslim and the president of parliament a Shiite.
The rest of the seats are distributed among the other communities.
"The demands are basic and unified, which helps us to maintain unity in the streets," he said, sitting in the small courtyard of the headquarters of the republican, secular party.
He added they have "high hopes that
Those who have taken the reins of the marches have been women asking for rights that have been deprived to them, such as passing on Lebanese nationality to their children through a current colonial law, as well as students from universities.
"The difference between us and other independent parties in the revolution is the story... but I don't want to see the differences, but rather on the positive side that maybe these groups were not able to work together before," he said.
"Today, it is showing that we can coordinate to some extent and we are improving." EFE
© 2019 EFE News Services (U.S.) Inc., source