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In Lebanon, a nascent reform movement faces tough road

Ibrahim Mneimneh, a 46-year-old architect and one of 13 independent newcomers who won a seat in the latest parliamentary elections, smiles as he receives a congratulatory phone call at his home, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 19, 2022. Broadly, they share a common stance that the decades-old grip on power by civil war-era warlords and sectarian-based political dynasties is the root cause behind rampant corruption, mismanagement, lack of services and lack of accountability that have driven the country into ruin. But the reform movement is fragmented and the challenges it faces in fighting an entrenched, sectarian-based ruling clique are enormous. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Ibrahim Mneimneh, a 46-year-old architect and one of 13 new independent lawmakers who hail from the movement of protests against the country's traditional political factions, speaks to his supporters, at an event celebrating the election outcome, in Beirut, Lebanon, May 21, 2022. The strong showing by civil society activists has restored some hope among Lebanese that change is possible. But the reform movement is fragmented and the challenges it faces in fighting an entrenched, sectarian-based ruling clique are enormous. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) FILE - A team of engineers removes a concrete wall from a road that leads to the parliament building, which were set up following nationwide protests that erupted in late 2019 amid an economic meltdown, in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, May 23, 2022. Thirteen independent newcomers won seats in parliament in May 15 elections, building on the protest movement seeking to break the long domination by traditional parties. But the reform movement is fragmented and the challenges it faces in fighting an entrenched, sectarian-based ruling clique are enormous.. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File) Ramy Finge, a dentist spent two years braving tear gas and rubber bullets during anti-government protests, is one of 13 independent newcomers who won a seat in the latest parliamentary elections, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, at his home in Tripoli, north Lebanon, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. The strong showing by civil society activists has restored some hope among Lebanese that change is possible. But the reform movement is fragmented and the challenges it faces in fighting an entrenched, sectarian-based ruling clique are enormous. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) FILE - A woman holds a picture of her granddaughter, who was killed in the deadly 2020 Beirut port explosion during a demonstration outside the Justice Palace, in Beirut, Lebanon, Feb. 7, 2022. Thirteen independent newcomers won seats in parliament in May 15 elections, building on the protest movement seeking to break the long domination by traditional parties. But the reform movement is fragmented and the challenges it faces in fighting an entrenched, sectarian-based ruling clique are enormous. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein, File) Ibrahim Mneimneh, a 46-year-old architect and one of 13 independent newcomers who won a seat in the latest parliamentary elections, poses for a selfie with one of his supporters during an event celebrating the election outcome, in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, May 21, 2022. The strong showing by civil society activists has restored some hope among Lebanese that change is possible. But the reform movement is fragmented and the challenges it faces in fighting an entrenched, sectarian-based ruling clique are enormous. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)