Mashnouq: Mustaqbal Seeking President who Can Protect State, Not Awaiting Foreign Instructions

W460

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq announced Tuesday that al-Mustaqbal Movement is seeking “a president for the republic who can protect the safety and structure of the State,” stressing that the movement is not “awaiting foreign instructions” regarding the presidential vote.

“We in Mustaqbal are not a party that wastes time over the game of candidates. We are not looking for a candidate but rather for a president with whom we would restore the regularity of our political system. We are not searching for a candidate but rather for a president with whom we would protect the safety and structure of the State,” said Mashnouq during a Tripoli rally marking the third anniversary of the deadly bombings that hit two mosques in the northern city.

“We are a responsible political party that considers the prolongation of the presidential void a crime against Lebanon, its political system and the regularity of its national and political life. We will spare no effort to put an end to the irregularity of vacuum,” the minister vowed.

“Those who want to discuss the presidency with us know very well the serious approach to address this file according to the rules of constitution and partnership,” he added, stressing that his movement “does not await foreign instructions.”

Hizbullah MP Nawwaf al-Moussawi on Monday accused Riyadh of using its influence over Mustaqbal to block the election of Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun as president.

“We know that the internal rift in the other camp reflects the hesitation of its regional leadership (Saudi Arabia), which has not apparently informed its MPs in Lebanon of its decision until the moment. It has not given them the nod to elect General Aoun as president,” Moussawi claimed.

“We know that a lot of Mustaqbal Movement officials and MPs support the election of General Aoun but they cannot oppose the will of their regional leadership, which is still rejecting settlements and agreements in Yemen, Syria and Lebanon,” the lawmaker added.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 and Hizbullah, Aoun's Change and Reform bloc and some of their allies have been boycotting the parliament's electoral sessions, stripping them of the needed quorum.

Hariri, who is close to Saudi Arabia, launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh for the presidency but his proposal was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

Hariri's move prompted Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to endorse the nomination of Aoun, his long-time Christian rival.

The supporters of Aoun's presidential bid argue that he is more eligible than Franjieh to become president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.

Comments 1
Missing humble 24 August 2016, 01:26

"Not awaiting foreign instructions": so it can neverbe the Caporal.