Free Patriotic Movement Chief, MP Gebran Bassil, said today in a press conference, “We are living through the manifestations of the collapse: the dollar is without a ceiling, the poverty line has risen, gasoline is over a million, there is chaos in the pharmaceutical market, the educational sector is threatened, neglect of administration, employees and transactions, and judges complaining about each other and implementing political agendas.”
He added: “An army commander violates the laws of defense and public accountability, takes by force the powers of the Minister of Defense, and disposes of millions according to his whim with a fund of private money and army property…A prime minister issues illegal decisions, the latest of which is placing director generals at disposal…”
“Till today, there is no external decision to ignite the situation nor an internal decision to fight…Security chaos due to the daily-living situation is expected, but beware! Who guarantees? Don’t you see how they play with the dollar, the judiciary, and the people to blow-up the situation and eliminbate the European investigation?” Bassil cautioned.
Over the stalemate situation, Bassil asserted “extending a hand to everyone” and called for “holding urgent deliberations, bilaterally or collectively, in any form, so that there is agreement on a small and quick-implemented program,” and “to agree on a mini-list of names to reach consensus over one,” or at least to vote according to the list if it is not possible to have one name for the presidential election.
He added: “In the event that the efforts fail and our positions are considered based on weakness instead of caution, I will seriously consider running for the presidency of the republic, regardless of loss or gain, so that we would have at least preserved the principle of eligibility for representation.”
“In the event that all our endeavors are rejected and the intentions of exclusion are confirmed, we will then resort to fierce political opposition against the entire system and authority…and here I am not threatening like others, but we do not die and we have our options to live with our dignity without fighting with our partners,” Bassil underscored.
He continued to reiterate that “partnership is the raison d’être for Lebanon’s existence, that partnership is our weapon and that we will not abandon it…Understanding is there to serve the partnership. Thus, partnership is a guarantee of understanding, not a victim of maintaining it…”
“We are ready to conclude a new understanding with Hezbollah and with any political component on building the state in partnership, provided it is implemented,” Bassil emphasized.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon