Saniora Files Complaint Against Wahhab over Remarks
Head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora filed a complaint against Arab Tawhid Party leader and former minister Wiam Wahhab over remarks accusing the lawmaker of belonging to the “Israeli project” in the region.
The state-run National News Agency reported on Thursday that Saniora briefed General Prosecutor Samir Hammoud on the context of Wahhab's statements during a televised interview, stressing that he reserves the right to file a lawsuit against the former minister.
Wahhab later responded to Saniora's move, saying that he accepts the former PM's lawsuit on the condition that Saniora abandons his parliamentary immunity.
“If he wants we could face each other through judiciary and in front of the Lebanese.”
Wahhab said that he insists on “putting (Saniora) on trial and holding him accountable (for his actions) because he is part of (the Israeli) project.”
He considered during a televised interview on Wednesday Saniora to be “part of an Israeli project,” accusing him of exerting efforts to topple al-Mustaqbal Movement chief Saad Hariri's interests.
He also accused him of spreading division and sedition among the Lebanese, which only benefits the Jewish state.
“Saniora considers that dialogue harms his position... he will never become a prime minister unless the Israeli project triumphs,” Wahhab continued.
He slammed Saniora as “a moving incitement, who can't stand the fact that the Lebanese could unite.”
“You didn't leave any money for the Lebanese... We are suffering from $70 billion debt because of him.”
Saniora lashed out at Hizbullah and Iran during the March 14 coalition's 10th anniversary over the weekend. He noted that “Lebanon is no longer safe due to the party's intervention in the war in Syria.”
He was also angered by a statement by an adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Ali Younesi, for allegedly declaring earlier this month a new Iranian empire, “whose capital is Baghdad.”
Al-Mustaqbal bloc also blasted Hizbullah and its allies on Tuesday for turning a blind eye to the statement, accusing the party of “putting its loyalty to Iran and its Velayat-e faqih (Tehran's form of Islamic rule) above the Lebanese interest and the Arab interest.”
Tension soared between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal after lawmakers from both parties exchanged accusations.
Despite the tension, the eighth round of dialogue between the two parties was held on Wednesday under Speaker Nabih Berri's auspices in Ain el-Tineh.
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