Hariri Says Beirut Won't 'Drown in Trash' Anew, Urges Votes for 'Rafik Hariri Project'
Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri stressed Thursday that he will not tolerate another garbage disposal crisis in the capital Beirut as he called on Beirut's voters to defend “Rafik Hariri's project” in Sunday's municipal polls.
“It is true that the capital is for all people... but in order for Beirut to live in dignity, the decision must be in the hand of its people,” said Hariri at an electoral rally for the Beirutis List at the Sporting Club stadium in Manara.
“Beirut is great and it flourishes through the efforts of all those who work or study in it,” he added.
“The Beirutis List is a team comprising engineers, financial experts, doctors, media experts and activists in the sports and education fields, and it is prohibited for this team to fail,” the ex-PM emphasized.
Hariri also underlined that “all the people of the capital want to see work being done.”
“They want to see a clean city, sidewalks they can walk on, they want to go to a clean sea, to see Beirut as the most beautiful city in the Middle East!”
And noting that “nothing prevents turning this city into the best, most beautiful and cleanest city,” Hariri pledged that he “will not be lenient towards any negligence.”
“I won't allow Beirut to drown in garbage another time,” Hariri vowed, referring to the unprecedented waste disposal crisis that gripped Beirut and many Lebanese regions following the July 2015 closure of the Naameh landfill.
Hariri added: “Beirut was and will remain the forefront of Rafik Hariri's political project.”
“Those who tell you that the elections are not political or to stay home and not to vote and those who ask you to omit a certain name or to vote against the Beirutis List are actually asking you to vote against Rafik Hariri's project,” he warned.
Explaining why the capital is important for al-Mustaqbal in the municipal elections, Hariri added: “It is true that some say that these elections are about development, families, and are not political. But no, this is Beirut, the capital of everything, the capital of economy, of management, of sports, of arts, of health and the capital of culture. This is the capital of the state, and thus: the capital of politics.”
“Rafik Hariri knew what Beirut is and its importance ... To bring investment, employment opportunities, tourism and cultural and scientific life to Lebanon, one must begin with the capital of Lebanon, Beirut,” the former premier went on to say.
“We are Bassel Fleihan, the Beirut MP and one of the finest Lebanese men who was martyred near the St. Georges (Hotel). We are Walid Eido, the Beirut MP and the voice of freedom, who was martyred in Manara, a few meters away. We are Wissam al-Hassan, the hero of the fight against terrorism, who was martyred in Ashrafieh. We are Mohammed Shatah the man of understanding and dialogue, who was martyred in Minet Hosn,” Hariri added, referring to Mustaqbal figures who were assassinated in the past 11 years.
“It is our responsibility to say, through our votes on Sunday, that Beirut is still committed to equal Muslim-Christian power-sharing, coexistence, national unity and the national project of Rafik Hariri,” the ex-PM said, addressing Mustaqbal's supporters.
The Mustaqbal-led Beirutis List also comprises candidates nominated by the AMAL Movement, the Free Patriotic Movement, the Lebanese Forces, the Kataeb Party and other forces.
It is running against the “Beirut Madinati” list which comprises artists, experts and civil society figures and the Citizens In A State list which is led by former Labor Minister Charbel Nahas.
The four-stage municipal elections will start in Beirut and Bekaa-al-Hermel districts on May 8, while the elections in Mount Lebanon will be held on May 15.
Elections in South Lebanon and Nabatieh are set for May 22 while those for Morth Lebanon and Akkar will be held on May 29.
Y.R.
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