Nasrallah Sees Chance for 'Made in Lebanon' President: Suleiman Lost Moderator Role
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has noted that Lebanese parties can elect a president without being affected by foreign influence, pointing out that President Michel Suleiman's recent remarks have ended his role as a national dialogue moderator.
In the second part of an interview with As Safir newspaper that will be published Tuesday, Nasrallah clarified the reasons that prompted his party to boycott the recent dialogue session, saying Suleiman's “latest stances have made him lose his role as national dialogue moderator.”
Hizbullah had boycotted the March 31 session following a war of words with the president over the so-called army-people-resistance equation.
“The general atmosphere in the country is an atmosphere of holding the presidential vote on time,” Nasrallah told As Safir, adding that the party will back the candidate who can maintain “the higher national interest.”
“The local factors will be influential more than ever regarding the presidential election and therefore an opportunity lies ahead of us to elect a made in Lebanon president,” Hizbullah's leader added.
The constitutional timeframe to elect a successor to Suleiman began on March 25, amid the president's refusal of any extension of his term -- which ends May 25. Until the moment, only Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has officially nominated himself for the presidency.
Separately, Nasrallah hailed the unprecedented security plan that is being implemented by security forces in the North and the Bekaa following a cabinet decision, stressing that it must be accompanied by “a comprehensive political, economic, social and developmental approach.”
He also underlined the importance of conducting “real reconciliations” between all the political movements and groups, expressing Hizbullah's openness to dialogue.
Commenting on the developments that followed the vote of confidence that was won by Prime Minister Tammam Salam's cabinet, Nasrallah lauded the new government's “productivity” and the reactivation of parliament's work, calling for “completing the administrative appointments.”
Turning to the issue of equipping the Lebanese Army, Hizbullah's secretary-general reiterated his support for any foreign aid “except from Israel.”
"The resistance needs a consolidated and cohesive society and a strong, capable and just state,” added Nasrallah, noting that “the current circumstances are not befitting for searching for means to improve the political system in Lebanon.”
Y.R.
S.D.B.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/125548 |