Franjieh: I won't conspire against resistance nor against its rivals

Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh has stressed that he “will not conspire against the resistance nor against its rivals and enemies,” days after Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah openly announced that his party wants a president for Lebanon who “would reassure the resistance.”

“I’m ready for all possibilities. For the presidency and for failure to reach it. Others are fighting over it today as if it is a lottery prize whereas in fact it is a real ball of fire,” al-Akhbar newspaper quoted Franjieh as telling sources informed on his stance.

“I don’t know if I will succeed or fail, but what I know is that I will try and exert efforts to succeed,” Franjieh added.

Noting that being elected president is “not a goal in itself,” the Marada chief reminded that he had given up the post in the 2016 elections and said that he is “not clinging to it now” if “there is no chance for salvation and success.”

Asked whether he is a “confrontation candidate,” Franjieh said that a consensual president is not one who is elected in a consensual manner bat rather one who “also acts in this manner.”

“Of course I’m a member of a project and camp and I’m holding onto my position in them, but my election would oblige me to be for all Lebanese, be them pro-government or in the opposition,” the Marada chief added.

“I will implement what I can pledge to do, not more and not less,” he said.

“I will not be the president of my camp exclusively, but I will give the resistance what rivals or enemies cannot give,” Franjieh went on to say.

Moreover, he added: “We cannot forget that we are in a country that is governed by balances of power and political and sectarian balances that confine the ability to act. Those unable to confront the resistance will become confident that their election will make them more incapable of thinking to strike it.”

“We need patience in thinking and behavior to address all our problems, including the arms of the resistance,” Franjieh went on to say.

Hezbollah’s weapons “do not need my cover or protection,” the Marada chief added, noting that he agreed with what Nasrallah recently said about “a president who does not stab the resistance in its back.”

“What I will do is that I will not conspire against the resistance, nor against its rivals and enemies,” Franjieh said.

“I won’t take revenge on anyone nor settle any score with anyone – not over the past nor over the future,” the Marada leader added, pointing out that “Hezbollah’s arms have a regional and international dimension that we alone cannot settle.”

As for his ties with Washington and Paris, Franjieh said: “So far I have not heard from the Americans and French that they support my election, but I have not received any negative message indicating that they oppose me or don’t want me. The same thing applies to Saudi Arabia.”