After the devastating explosion, Lebanon’s prime minister quits

ONE COULD be forgiven for thinking Hassan Diab a mere bystander, not the prime minister of Lebanon. On August 10th, six days after a massive explosion at Beirut’s port devastated much of the city centre, Mr Diab announced his resignation. In a ten-minute speech he denounced a “system of corruption” that is “bigger than the state”, one that bankrupted the country and crippled basic services. It reached a tragic climax on August 4th, when 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, stored at the port for six years despite officials’ concerns, abruptly detonated. And despite his position, it was a system Mr Diab was seemingly powerless to break.At first he did not want to go. The night before he quit, one of his ministers described the government as “steadfast”. But a wave of resignations—by the ministers of justice, finance and others—helped force his hand. It was a minuscule gesture of contrition after a catastrophe that killed at least 220 people and wounded at least 6,000. Hundreds of thousands are homeless. Reconstruction could cost up to $15bn, more than a quarter of Lebanon’s GDP in 2019.