Nasrallah Throws Support Behind Sunni MPs, Affirms ‘Firm’ Relations with Aoun

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah reiterated backing for the participation of so-called independent Sunni MPs, assuring that relations with his ally President Michel Aoun were intact.

“All officials including President (Michel) Aoun and Speaker (Nabih) Berri had initially agreed on the representation of independent Sunni MPs but the PM-designate (Saad Hariri) did not,” said Nasrallah in a televised address marking Hizbullah Martyr’s Day.

“Lebanon does not need more than eight or ten ministers to represent all its parties but they chose to make it 30. Why not form the government of 32 and allow place for the representation of Sunni MPs,” he said.

Hizbullah chief emphasized that the party has raised the demand to allocate a ministerial portfolio for said MPs “since day one after the Premier’s designation.”

“We have never thought about allocating a share for independent Sunni MPs from the share of President Michel Aoun. We want the Premier to give them a seat from his share,” said Nasrallah.

On Hizbullah’s relations with his ally, Aoun, Nasrallah said: “Relations between Hizbullah and Aoun are intact and no one can drag us to a rift over the Sunni obstacle,” he said.

Nasrallah lashed out at Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat who criticized Hizbullah for “delaying the Cabinet formation” over the Sunni obstacle.

“Jumblat has obstructed the government formation for a whole of four months and has no right to speak of obstruction,” he said, referring to the PSP demands to get the three Druze ministerial seats as part of the PSP’s share.

He concluded saying: “We will stand by the side of independent Sunni allies because we reject isolation.” Noting that whatever said MPs settle for, Hizbullah will be ready to support.

On Hizbullah’s Resistance, he said: “The path of the Resistance was decisive, strong and triumphant achieving historic victories. Hizbullah will unquestionably retaliate against any Israeli aggression against Lebanon. We are not afraid of any sanctions and we will continue to hold on to our weapons and missiles.”

“We condemn any form of normalization with the Zionist entity,” he added.