Bassil Says Rivals Failed to Prove that FPM, LF Don't Represent '86% of Christians'

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil noted Tuesday that the results of the municipal polls were blown out of proportion in some areas, especially in Akkar's Qoubaiyat and Batroun's Tannourine, claiming that the FPM and the Lebanese Forces faced a political battle aimed at proving they do not represent “86 percent of Christians.”

“They tried to deal us a political blow under the slogan that we don't represent 86 percent of Christians but they failed,” Bassil said at a press conference, although the two parties have never officially endorsed the 86 percent claim.

LF chief Samir Geagea clarified on May 15 that the LF and the FPM had “never claimed” that they “represent 86% of Christians.”

“After we allied with the FPM, a survey showed that 86% of Christians supported the rapprochement,” he explained.

Bassil pointed out on Tuesday that “elections in the North have proved that the FPM is present across all northern towns.”

“I understand that a local leader might win the elections in his hometown, but this does not mean that he triumphed against a broad political movement,” he said.

“What happened in the elections proved that the political parties have the upper hand and this does not eliminate the presence of families,” he added.

He was especially referring to the results of the elections in the northern towns of Qoubaiyat and Tannourine, where the FPM-LF alliance lost to lists backed by al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Hadi Hbeish, ex-MP Mikhail al-Daher and Telecom Minister Butros Harb.

“Our only setback was in the Zgharta district but we know the reason. We received the message and we promise our supporters that we will regain our strength,” Bassil added, attributing the FPM's results there to the recent strain of relations with Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh.

“For the fourth time, the city of Batroun has proven that its color is orange,” Bassil said, referring to the FPM's victory in the northern city's municipal vote.

“The LF and the FPM achieved a landslide victory in central Batroun except for the towns of Shabtin and Jdabra,” he noted.

Bassil also admitted that the FPM “was not fully ready for the municipal polls due to its recent restructuring and the efforts that were exerted to postpone the elections.”

“The idea of postponing the municipal polls was floated intentionally and it was aimed at distracting people,” he said.

Turning to the results of Tripoli's vote, where no Christian or Alawite candidates managed to reach the municipal council, Bassil added: “We hold those who formed the consensual list in Tripoli responsible for the exclusion of Alawites and Christians because they deliberately eliminated some parties.”

“What happened in Tripoli was caused by the mentality of arrogance and hegemony and the result was a violation of the National Pact,” he lamented.

“Our results in Tripoli and el-Mina highlight our strong presence in the city,” Bassil added.

A list backed by resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi achieved a stunning victory Sunday against a list backed by ex-PMs Saad Hariri and Najib Miqati, former ministers Faisal Karami and Mohammed al-Safadi, Jamaa Islamiya, al-Ahbash and the Arab Democratic Party.

The Rifi-backed list clinched 16 seats on the municipal council as the broad coalition's list won only eight.

Christian and Alawite candidates representing the city's two minorities failed to win any seats, which is a first in the history of Tripoli's municipal elections.

Y.R.