Could Damianos Kattar Ride To The Rescue?

Could the next President be someone who is “good and nice and works a lot?”

In February of 2006, the American University of Beirut hosted a conference called “How to Become a Leader”. One of the panelists was a young, popular ex-Minister who has a PHD in Strategic Planning. Demianos Kattar started his speech by quoting his own son: A leader “is someone good and nice and works a lot,” who is “able to accomplish things, which depend on self-discipline and empowering others”.

These are words that one should reflect on, since the man who uttered them is highly rumored to be the fabled consensus Lebanese leader everyone desperately wants.

What do I mean by “highly rumored?” 

Consider this: The volume of Google searches of “Damianos Kattar” has shot up to the stratosphere in the last few days, and I know because many of them ended up landing in one of my previous posts, where one of the commentators wrote “ The president of Lebanon will be Demianos Kattar. Just remember: you heard it from me first”

I can’t escape the rumors. My parents told me that their friends told them that Damianos Kattar will be the next President, and in general there seems to be is a hint of excitement at the rumor. 

What is it about Mr. Kattar that generates so much buzz? 

Aside from being likable and intelligent, the man fits politically in that very elusive thin slot that we Lebanese call “consensus”. He is liked by the Aounis, by March 14 (yesterday he made hush-hush statements to the media committing himself to International resolutions and to a defense strategy based on UNSCR 1701), and, most importantly, he can save face for March 8 who see in him a nonthreatening newbie who never antagonized them in public.

If Mr. Kattar does end up being the next Lebanese President, let’s all hope that he lives up to the hype and to his own words at AUB.