Bassil accuses govt. of seeking to 'exclude Christians from state'

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Tuesday warned that if the caretaker government “appoints 234 customs agents not including a single Christian,” it would be “insisting on excluding Christians from the state.”

“We hold responsible Deputy PM Saadeh al-Shami and the ministers Johnny Korm, Ziad Makari, Walid Nassar, George Kallas, Najla Riachi and George Boujikian if they secure the session’s quorum,” Bassil said in a post on the X platform.

“We also hold responsible the political sides to which these ministers belong and the political forces that are in the government or are covering it, topped by the Amal Movement and Hezbollah. The responsibility also falls on all the MPs who are refusing to sign a petition for putting the government on trial, because they are encouraging the government to carry on with its practices,” Bassil added.

“This decision and other decisions, as well as preventing the election of a president conforming to the National Pact, are telling Christians that they are unwanted in the state unless they abide by their conditions. Where are you pushing Christians to? Remember what we have told you: things should be correct so that we can stay together,” the FPM chief went on to say.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced later on Tuesday that the discussion of the appointments in Cabinet was discussed for further studying of the issue.

“I will not allow the dispute that erupted in the Higher Customs Council to be moved to the Council of Ministers. I will also not allow the exploitation of this issue by any party or political movement using a populist rhetoric to achieve gains and score points,” Mikati said during the session.

“I’m the keenest on addressing this issue based on the principle of keenness on everyone and on national unity. And to avoid any dispute at any level within Cabinet, especially that the issue has sectarian connotations, I have asked for further scrutiny, while reaffirming Cabinet’s previous decision, and I call on everyone to address the file objectively and away from detestable sectarian exploitation,” Mikati added.