Akkar MP calls for a 'solution federalism'
MP Walid al-Baarini, who represents the impoverished region of Akkar in parliament, has defended his recent call for “federalism,” saying his proposal “carries unification rather than partitioning as some are claiming for their own reasons.”
“Perhaps there is a necessity now for each side to win its right from the central state, regardless of numbers, strength and affiliations,” Baarini said in an interview with the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper.
“We the Sunnis are advocates of the Taif Agreement and we stress the need to implement it, and those who have prevented its implementation are the ones seeking partitioning,” Baarini added.
“We demand broad decentralization and call for a serious discussion that would bring down all barriers among the Lebanese. Some say that federalism is appropriate in Switzerland but not in our country, and this is not true. That’s why we invite you to dialogue and let’s adopt ‘Lebanonized federalism’ and choose what fits our country,” the lawmaker went on to say.
He added: “We’re all seeing the direction in which the region is headed, so why should we close our eyes and ears? If we want federalism, we want it to be a solution federalism, not a partitioning of war federalism. We want it to achieve balanced developments and bring down the barricades. We want to prevent partitioning not to consolidate it, because the state’s adopted policy of supporting a certain region or sect at the expense of other regions and sects is partitioning itself.”
The issue of federalism had recently stirred a debate in parliament, with MP Wael Abou Faour noting that some ministers in the new government are “advocates of federalism,” in an apparent reference to Industry Minister Joe Issa al-Khoury, the former secretary-general of 'Ittihadiyoun,' a federalist association in Lebanon.
“Your opinion is your right and no one can dispute that, but this government is clearly committed to the Document of National Accord (Taif Agreement), which does not mention federalism nor does it accept it, and accordingly and with all due respect for you and your ideas, we hope your work in your ministries will abide by the Document of National Accord,” Abou Faour said.
MP Nadim Gemayel of the Kataeb Party intervened, telling Abou Faour that “some parties are thinking of the (Islamic) Ummah and of Iran and other things,” prompting the MP to say that he also does not support that.
“This is a healthy debate, if someone believes that federalism is a solution, let them come to parliament to amend the constitution and establish federalism, but this government … is committed to the Document of National Accord,” Abou Faour added.
