Religious leader in Lebanon criticises politicians for abusing “power and influence” in election of new president
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Alaina
- . February 13, 2023
- . Update: February 13, 2023 10:00 pm
On Sunday, a Lebanese religious leader charged lawmakers with abusing their “power and influence” by impeding the process of electing a new president and the operations of state institutions.
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi stated in his sermon on Sunday that the Arab and worldwide communities denounced their “corruption” and that parliament should meet as quickly as possible to choose a new president. Yes, the president is a Maronite, but not all voters are Maronites or Christians, he said.
“Christian leaders are in fact to blame for the current presidential vacancy, but other people bear a bigger share of the blame. We are therefore careful not to destroy the identity of neither the president nor the republic since they are a guarantee of Lebanon’s unity. Christians cannot agree on the identity of the president, while others cannot agree on the identity of the republic.
“Are you honouring your primary constitutional duty of electing a president who legislates the job of parliament and the administration,” he continued, addressing the lawmakers. Are you implementing the reforms that are demanded internationally? Are you allowing the legal system to carry out its responsibilities and look into the Beirut port explosion in order to learn the truth and enact justice?
“Are you carrying out the actions that the World Monetary Fund and the international community require of you?” Are you establishing a lawful order and getting rid of chaos, the spread of illegal weapons, and the rule of the jungle? Are you creating Lebanon’s independence and securing Lebanon’s sovereignty over all of its lands?
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Al-Rahi made his remarks following a meeting of officials from France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and the US last week in Paris to address the situation in Lebanon.
The French Foreign Ministry urged Lebanese leaders to take the initiative to choose a new leader and implement the reforms required to win over the world community.
Hezbollah-aligned political parties seek to call a legislative session to pass a measure on capital controls and extend Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim’s contract as Lebanon’s director general of security when he is scheduled to retire. However, the proposal has been rejected by 46 opposition and reformist MPs who argue that doing so would be against the law.
MPs Melhem Khalaf and Najat Saliba are protesting the deadlock in the presidential election by continuing their parliamentary sit-in into its fifth week. They are requesting that voting sessions continue until a new president has been chosen by Speaker Nabih Berri.
Separately, security forces fighting illegal money changers have detained Ali Nimr Al-Khalil, a guard for an MP and a member of the Amal movement.
