Mustaqbal Lauds Nasrallah Remarks, Says 'Real Solution' Begins by Electing President

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc welcomed Tuesday Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's recent call for a political settlement, while stressing that the “real political solution” must start with the election of a new president.

Nasrallah's remarks were “good and positive, especially in terms of his commitment to the Taef Accord and the Constitution, away from the idea of the constituent assembly,” said the bloc in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

“Sayyed Nasrallah's statements must be utilized in the proper direction, specifically in the key issue of the presidential election,” it added.

The bloc noted that an agreement on the presidency would “immunize Lebanon and protect it against the surrounding and impending threats.”

“That must be accompanied by practical steps to defuse the tensions that are being aggravated by the practices and approaches of some parties,” it added.

Hizbullah, the Free Patriotic Movement and some of their allies have been boycotting electoral sessions aimed at choosing a new president for more than a year now. They are demanding that political parties agree on a candidate before heading to parliament for a vote.

Nasrallah had on Saturday reiterated his call for reaching a “comprehensive” settlement in Lebanon, saying that officials should take advantage of the “positive political atmosphere” that was reached after last week's legislative session.

In an earlier speech, he had called for a “comprehensive political settlement” over the issues of the stalled presidential vote, the next government and the electoral law that should be approved for the parliamentary polls.

Separately, al-Mustaqbal bloc called on the government to hold an extraordinary session to address “the security developments and the continued garbage disposal crisis.”

Y.R.