(MENAFN) The Lebanese government’s last-minute decision to delay the start of daylight saving time by a month until the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has caused mass confusion in the country. With some institutions implementing the change while others refused, many Lebanese have found themselves juggling work and school schedules in different time zones. In some cases, the debate took on a sectarian nature, with Christian politicians and institutions rejecting the move.
Lebanon normally sets its clocks forward an hour on the last Sunday in March, which aligns with most European countries. However, on Thursday, the government announced a decision by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to push the start of daylight saving to April 21, one month later than usual. No reason was given for the decision.
However, a leaked video of a meeting between Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri showed Berri asking Mikati to postpone the implementation of daylight saving time to allow Muslims to break their Ramadan fast an hour earlier. Mikati responded that he had made a similar proposal but argued that implementing the change would be difficult as it would cause problems in airline flight schedules, to which Berri interjects, “What flights?”
After the postponement was announced, Lebanon’s state airline, Middle East Airlines, said the departure times of all flights scheduled to leave from the Beirut airport between Sunday and April 21 would be advanced by an hour.
The confusion caused by the last-minute decision highlights the challenges of implementing daylight saving time in a country where the debate can take on a sectarian nature. The delay has also caused inconvenience for many Lebanese who now find themselves adjusting their schedules to different time zones. It remains to be seen whether the government will face further criticism for its handling of the situation and whether it will review its decision to delay daylight saving time.
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