Mustaqbal: Hizbullah, FPM, Iran Fully Responsible for Presidential Void
Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc noted Tuesday that Hizbullah, the Free Patriotic Movement and Tehran are to blame for the presidential vacuum crisis that has been running since May 2014.
“The bloc reiterates its insistence on the election of a president as soon as possible in order to end the presidential void in the country and pave the way for restoring the role and work of state institutions,” said the bloc in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.
“In this regard, the bloc holds Hizbullah and the FPM, and behind them Iran, fully responsible for the presidential vacuum crisis and all of its dangerous aspects and repercussions,” it added.
The country's top Christian post has been vacant since the end of president Michel Suleiman's term on May 25, 2014 due to electoral rivalry and political disagreements among the parties.
The MPs of Hizbullah, the FPM and some of their allies have been boycotting parliamentary sessions aimed at electing a new president, demanding a prior agreement on the candidate who would be elected.
Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri had recently launched an initiative involving the election of Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh as president. But Hariri's move ran aground after it was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.
“The insistence of Hizbullah, backed by Iran, on the approach of illegitimate arms and its attempt to impose political hegemony over Lebanon and the Lebanese ... is the main reason behind the dire situations in the country,” the bloc said in its statement on Tuesday.
It noted, however, that it will continue to “cling to the approach of dialogue” with the party out of its “profound understanding of Lebanon's unique formula that is based on coexistence and its faith in the civil state.”
Turning to the issue of the resumption of cabinet sessions, Mustaqbal stressed that “any party that tries to impose crippling conditions and practice blackmail would be committing a grave crime against Lebanon and the Lebanese and their interests.”
Y.R.
12 January 2016, 19:35
33
Yes Yes but dialogue is the only way to get a sectarian militia armed with 100,000 rockets to reason with you Mustaqbal. Bravo, continue the dialogue beyond the 38th session.
12 January 2016, 20:24
34
About effing time they said this!
We all know the vacuum is caused by Hezbollah, Iran and FPM, but the weak politicians have been too vague in calling them out.
Furthermore, Hezbollah has planned for this vacuum from day 1, when they accused Suleiman of wanting to stay beyond the end of his term. The purpose of Hezbollah and FPM's criticism was to encourage Suleiman to leave the office of President before a successor was elected.... which was a big mistake on Suleiman's part!
The President should never step down before his successor is elected, and in my opinion Suleiman should still be in the position of President, until there is a new election for his replacement.
