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3.6.3 Local Government and municipal reform in Lebanon
The issue of reforming and reviving Lebanon's local government network is of central
importance to reforming and reviving the Lebanese political and administrative system as a
whole. This is because the number ofmunicipalities is relatively high (over 600). Moreover,
the political, administrative, fiscal, social, and economic issues interwoven in the municipal
issue are so complex in Lebanon. A serious and thorough study of the problems and
challenges facing local government in Lebanon is a critical first step in developing a rational
policy toward this complex issue (LCPS, 1998).
To address this issue, the Lebanese Centre Policy Studies (LCPS, 1998) undertook and has
concluded a study on the situation of municipalities. The study aimed to identitY problems,
devise solutions and suggest reforms. The researchers chose and managed their own field
research assistants, conducted surveys of dozens of municipalities in the various regions,
collected data and a literature review of books, journals and newspapers, and conducted
interviews with officials of ministries, heads of municipalities, and municipal government
experts.
Throughout the implementation ofthe research project, and after months of research. the five
researchers presented their work in a one-day conference on municipal government held in
the month of October, 1994. The conference was attended by public administration experts,
representatives from the Ministry of Municipal and Village Affairs, as well as parliamentary
deputies, journalists and academics. The conference brought to the forefront the problems
facing municipal government in Lebanon. Many municipalities in Lebanon have become
dysfunctional and many are ineffective and suffer from serious financing. staffing, and
administrative problems. During the conference, the panicipants suggested ways of
improving the municipalities' situation by suggesting the holding of municipal elections, and
the provision to municipalities the needed authority to make their own autonomous decisions
(LCPS, 1998).
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