Hariri Defends Govt. Productivity, Says Sunnis 'Not Frustrated'

Prime Minister Saad Hariri defended his government on Wednesday in the face of criticism from several MPs, as he denied claims that the Sunni community in Lebanon is “frustrated.”

“I cannot accept the claim that this government is not productive because it is the most productive government, despite the fact that it was formed less than a year ago,” said Hariri after the end of parliamentary debate sessions on the 2017 state budget.

“The government approved an electoral law, a new wage scale, diplomatic and judicial appointments, a socio-economic council and today a state budget,” Hariri explained.

He noted that since its formation, the government has been exerting efforts to “confront the repercussions of the Syrian refugee crisis and to solve the electricity problem and the country's problems.”

Responding to criticism from opposition lawmakers, Hariri lamented that “some are acting as if only today they discovered our difficult financial situation, the refugee crisis, the electricity problem and the absence of yearly final accounts.”

“You cannot take part in previous governments and then discover all these problems and their 'easy solutions' when you don't take part in the new government,” the premier added, addressing some opposition MPs.

Hitting back at MPs who spoke of Sunni “frustration,” Hariri stressed that the Sunni community in Lebanon is “not frustrated.”

“I'm responsible for my words. Perhaps some colleagues are frustrated but I call on them not to project their frustration on the Lebanese or on an essential and founding religious community in this country,” Hariri added.

“Those who were not frustrated by the assassination of Rafik Hariri cannot be frustrated by anything! The Lebanese were not frustrated by the assassination of the martyr premier, they rebelled, achieved and carried on,” the PM said.