Bassil Urges 'Truly Representative' President, 'Balanced' Govt., Fair Electoral Law

Free Patriotic Movement chief Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil announced Tuesday that the Change and Reform bloc wants a president who would “truly” represent Christians in power, also urging a “balanced” government and a “fair” electoral law.

“The stance of the Change and Reform bloc is firm: political authority must stem from real popular will,” said Bassil after the bloc's weekly meeting in Rabieh.

“This would allow electing a parliament under a fair and just electoral law and forming a government that respects equal power-sharing (between Christians and Muslims) and that would ensure balance in governance,” he added.

Turning to the protracting presidential void, Bassil underlined that the new president must be “truly representative of his people.”

The FPM chief also called for holding parliamentary elections as soon as possible and staging the upcoming municipal polls on time.

Bassil's remarks come several days after al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri met in Paris with Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh, who is allied with the Change and Reform bloc.

Media reports have said that Franjieh's chances to reach the Baabda Palace have surged due to attempts by the rival camps to find a so-called political settlement.

Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.

Earlier in the day, Bassil stressed that military action alone will not be able to defeat terrorism that has spread throughout the world.

He said in a speech before several diplomats on the occasion of Independence Day: “We cannot celebrate independence until we defeat terrorism.”

“Takfiri and Islamic State-linked terrorism will not defeat us and neither will Israel,” he vowed.

“We have long demanded the establishment of an international coalition to confront terrorism,” Bassil stressed.

“Should we wait for attacks against more sects to be able to unite in words and action in a movement against terrorists?” he wondered.

“On the occasion of Independence Day, we salute the army and its efforts in fighting terrorists along the border,” added the minister.

The army frequently shells the positions of gunmen that are stationed in border areas with Syria, most notably on the outskirts of Arsal and Ras Baalbek.

Bassil continued: “We will celebrate our independence once we decide to adhere to the voice of the people and reject foreign meddling.”

“We will be able to celebrate our independence when we liberate ourselves from foreign conditions,” he stated.

“We will be able to celebrate our independence when we will be allowed to exploit our offshore gas and oil wealth,” he declared.

“We celebrate on Independence Day the harboring of nearly 2 million refugees,” he added.

“We will continue our efforts to preserve diversity in the Middle East,” he remarked.

“Lebanon has demonstrated its ability to persevere,” the foreign minister continued.

Lebanon celebrated Independence Day on Monday.

M.T./Y.R.