Want to buy a government minister? Well, Lebanese ministers briefly were for sale on eBay, although the auction has since been removed .
Likely following the example of a similar auction launched earlier this week for Egyptian President Addel Fattah Al Sisi, an eBay user posted images of 12 Lebanese ministers, attracting more than $11,000 and some 55 bids before being removed on Saturday morning.
Lebanon's "antique" ministers were being auctioned by eBay user ahaidar2008, a profile that was registered on Feb. 25 and was listed as registered in the United States. The "items" were listed as being located in Michigan, the U.S. state with the largest Lebanese diaspora community.
The description for the sale said:
"Just so no one criticizes this ... eBay allows uploading 12 pictures only ... So we chose 12 ministers who represent all the blocs participating in the government ... Just not to make anyone sad, the 24 ministers are all for sale like an archeological masterpiece (ashtrays and such) that is possible to buy and put on a shelve because it is useless ... #YouStink"
Including # طلعت _ ريحتكم (#YouStink) on the auction page, the seller aligned with the popular protest movement, which lead Beirut's massive trash protests last summer. The group also shared the eBay auction to its official Facebook page on Saturday morning.
الحكومة اللبنانية للبيع على موقع eBay كتحف أثرية بخيسة الثمن.. لأنهم في الحكم كالمنافض وبقية التحف المنزلية ديكور لا يقدم ولا يؤخر ولا يصنع حلول..#مستمرون #طلعت_ريحتكم#مجلس_التمديد
Posted by طلعت ريحتكم on Friday, February 26, 2016
Social media users shared and commented on the post, mocking the government and venting their frustrations. Some weren't impressed however, pointing out that the initiative was copying Egypt. A representative from the #YouStink page responded by saying: "Whatever helps us reach a better Lebanon: we will try it."
The #YouStink movement arose following the closure of Lebanon's Naameh landfill last July, leaving no alternative location for dumping the the waste of Beirut and Mount Lebanon. As trash began piling up in streets throughout the country, thousands of protestors descended on Downtown Beirut for several months.
Now, more than half a year later, the crisis remains unresolved by the government and trash has piled up in unofficial dumpsites around Lebanon. While political change in the country won't be as simple as auctioning off the country's government on eBay, the continued activism online and in the streets demonstrates a pervasive societal exasperation with the present reality.