The Ongoing Fragmentation of March 14

The Democractic Renewal Movement (Tajaddod), upon the return of their leader Nassib Lahhoud declared its “independence”:

In the last years, we have been through very rich experiences in cooperating with other parties and engaging in alliances. We are now an independent movement that maintains very good relations and cooperation with several parties, and we are not part of any existing front

I still don’t know what to make of this and perhaps my friends over at the movement can explain some more. I think this is a combination of disfranchisement with the way things are working with March 14, (remember how Musbah Ahdab was sacrificed in Tripoli?) a disenfranchisement with the leadership of Saad Hariri, and a political realization that in this very polarized environment, independent parties play a very important role and can freely speak their minds..

Update: I was told by party higher-ups that the Tajaddod movement has left March 14 since June 2009, and that “independence” does not mean “neutrality”. The movement, I was reminded, will keep fighting for the liberal causes of freedom, equality and rule of law. Here’s more from Mr. Lahoud’s press event.