Franjieh: Gulf Funds Being Paid in Koura By-Elections
Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh urged on Thursday his movement to intensify efforts in order to achieve the success of Syrian Social National Party candidate Walid al-Azar in Sunday’s Koura by-elections.
He said: “Funds from Arab Gulf countries are being paid to the other camp in order to ensure the success of their candidate.”
“The other camp imposed this electoral battle on us,” he continued.
Furthermore, he accused Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea of “provoking the people in their regions and homes under the excuse of democracy.”
“The Koura battle is strictly political and it not only includes the SSNP, but the all of us as well,” declared the Marada Movement leader.
“We are a united team that shares a single vision,” Franjieh stated.
“We do not have the same financial capabilities as the other camp, which have been demonstrated through the billboard campaigns whose cost exceeded a million dollars,” he noted.
“Our electoral campaign has not even cost us $100,000,” said the MP.
“We rely on the votes of people who cannot be bought by others and we rely on their awareness” to ensure the success of the SSNP candidate, he added.
“Geagea is being fed by the funds of some Gulf states, while the March 14 camp is being funded by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar,” he said.
By-elections are set to take place on Sunday to fill in the parliamentary seat left vacant after the death of MP Farid Habib.
The election will be waged between SSNP candidate Azar and Lebanese Forces candidate Fadi Karam.
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