Hariri: Our Initiative Led to LF-FPM Reconciliation, We Don't Fear Election of Any Candidate Abiding by Taef

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri stressed Sunday that his movement “does not fear” the election as president of any candidate who abides by the Taef Accord, noting that his latest proposal to nominate MP Suleiman Franjieh has stirred “the stagnant political waters” and led to a “historic reconciliation between the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement.”

“The Lebanese presidency deserves more attention and efforts than the Syrian, Iraqi or Yemeni presidencies. The country's interest lies in ending the siege on the presidency, the government and the parliament, not in taking part in besieging Madaya, Aleppo and the Syrian towns,” said Hariri in a speech marking the 11th anniversary of the assassination of his father, ex-PM Rafik Hariri, addressing Hizbullah.

“We had the courage to launch an initiative and to stir the stagnant political waters, not to achieve partisan interests for al-Mustaqbal movement, but rather to achieve Lebanon's interest and end the presidential vacuum,” he told a rally at Beirut's BIEL venue, which was attended by March 14's leaders and thousands of supporters.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended on May 25, 2014 and Hizbullah, the FPM and some of their allies have been boycotting the electoral sessions.

Hariri launched late in 2015 a proposal to nominate Franjieh for the presidency but his suggestion was rejected by the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

Hizbullah and some of its allies, as well as March 14's Lebanese Forces, have argued that Aoun is more eligible than Franjieh to become president given the size of his parliamentary bloc and his influence in the Christian community.

“We have the courage to announce that we do not fear the election as president of any partner in the country as long as he abides by the Taef Accord, the law and constitution, coexistence, and putting the national interest and Lebanon's safety ahead of any regional scheme,” Hariri declared on Sunday.

Explaining why he had decided to launch the proposal of nominating Franjieh, Hariri noted that the presidential vacuum has led to deterioration “at all levels – socially, politically and economically – and it has affected the political system and coexistence.”

“After all parties, both allies and rivals, rejected to endorse a consensual candidate other than the top four Maronite leaders, we started our dialogue with (ex-)minister Franjieh. After all other initiatives reached a dead end, I met with (ex-)minister Franjieh in Paris and reached an understanding with him,” he added.

“What's wrong in that and why were you surprised? What is my role in the first place? What is Rafik Hariri's heritage other than preserving the system and civil peace and improving people's lives?” Hariri asked.

He pointed out that his step has “reshuffled the cards” and “forced everyone to consider ending the presidential vacuum.”

“We are proud of this step – a step that has pushed our allies, the Lebanese Forces, to reach a historic reconciliation with the Free Patriotic Movement after 28 years of rivalry,” he said.

“We were the first to call for and welcome this reconciliation and if only it happened long ago, it would've spared Christians and Lebanon a lot of problems,” added Hariri.

Addressing Hizbullah, the FPM and their allies, the ex-PM said: “Go to parliament and elect a president, unless your real candidate is vacuum.”

“You've been boycotting every session, preventing quorum and insisting to know the result in advance and yet you are holding us responsible. On this occasion, we do not allow anyone to tell us that it is our constitutional right to boycott sessions in order to justify their unconstitutional boycott,” Hariri added.

“Yes, loyalty to allies is a nice thing, but what is its use if it is at Lebanon's expense and if its aim is prolonging vacuum? Real loyalty must be to Lebanon,” Hariri went on to say, referring to Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's recent declaration that his party is insisting on Aoun's nomination out of loyalty and “political and ethical commitment.”

Turning to the issue of Nasrallah's recent verbal attacks against Saudi Arabia against the backdrop of a Saudi-Iranian war of words, Hariri said: “We are Arabs par excellence and we will not allow anyone to drag us into discord with Saudi Arabia and our Arab brothers.”

“Lebanon will never become an Iranian province, under any circumstances,” he emphasized.

As for the strain in relations among the March 14 forces that followed his support for Franjieh's presidential bid, Hariri noted that it was difficult for him and for the Mustaqbal movement to mark the February 14 anniversary “amidst an unstable atmosphere” and “discrepancy in points of view.”

“It is an occasion to call on March 14 forces, starting with the Mustaqbal movement, to carry out an internal review,” Hariri suggested, noting that the March 14 General Secretariat can play a role in this regard.

The reassessment should address “all aspects of the relationship between the forces of the Independence Uprising, in order to protect this exceptional experience in Lebanon’s history,” he said.

Y.R.