Al-Rahi decries 'plot against Lebanon'

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Saturday lamented that “all political indications confirm the presence of a plot against Lebanon aimed at causing presidential vacuum accompanied by a constitutional vacuum, which is more and more complicating the election of a president.”

“Didn’t some political groups block the formation of a government prior to the end of the term of (ex-)President General Michel Aoun despite their knowledge that the incumbent government had been certainly resigned and acting in caretaker capacity and that it would create problems in the specification of its role?” al-Rahi added in his annual Christmas message.

Noting that the Maronite patriarchate is “determined to continue its struggle and efforts inside Lebanon and with the Arab and international communities to speed up the presidential election,” the patriarch noted that “the regional conflict is hindering these efforts, because some want a president for them, not for Lebanon, and want a president for their project, not for the historic Lebanese project.”