Hariri Says Bassil is 'Shadow President', Decries '2nd Assassination of Rafik Hariri'

W460

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri on Friday launched a fierce attack on Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil and lamented that some parties are seeking what he called a second assassination of Rafik Hariri.

“President (Michel) Aoun knows that I respect him, but unfortunately I dealt with ‘two presidents’ and I had to deal with a ‘shadow president,’” Hariri said at a rally marking the 15th anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination, apparently referring to Bassil.

“The mentality of the wars of elimination wants to eliminate the Progressive Socialist Party, the Lebanese Forces, the protest movement, Harirism and al-Mustaqbal Movement,” Hariri decried, in a jab at Aoun, Bassil and the FPM.

“The political settlement has become something of the past and I affirm my alliance with Walid Jumblat,” he added.

Reminding of his initial support for Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh’s presidential bid ahead of his endorsement of Aoun, Hariri said “Franjieh's allies” prevented his election as president.

“We saw the settlement as a way to protect the country from civil strife,” Hariri added.

He noted that had the Paris II reforms been implemented 18 years ago, the country “would not have reached this collapse.”

“Rafik Hariri secured 24/7 power feed but who returned us to power rationing?” Hariri said, apparently referring to Bassil and the FPM.

“They wasted seven out of 14 years in the name of the National Pact,” he charged.

“The longest scheme of obstruction was staged in the wake of Rafik Hariri's assassination,” Hariri lamented.

He added: “They did not build anything in the country after Rafik Hariri's assassination.”

Hariri also suggested that some parties are “seeking to assassinate Rafik Hariri once again by blaming him for the public debt and the economic collapse.”

Underlining that no one can eliminate al-Mustaqbal Movement from the political scene, Hariri said the Movement will remain in the hearts of its supporters and will continue to “irritate the haters.”

He also said that claims that Mustaqbal is seeking the naturalization of refugees in the country are a “farce.”

Commenting on recent remarks by Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah about the economic crisis, Hariri said “Iran's cash money can solve the crisis of a party but cannot solve the crisis of a country.”

“We support the organization of early elections and the country needs calm,” he added.

As for his future as a politician, he said: “I will not leave the country to the unknown and I will not choose strife because I’m the son of Rafik Hariri.”

Addressing the Sunni community, Hariri stressed that it was his own decision to leave the premier post.

“I heard the voice of the people, because the people demanded a technocrat cabinet,” he said.

“I’m staying in my country and home, among my people and in the political life. Al-Mustaqbal Movement is a major movement, the Sunni community will remain here and will go nowhere and the patriotic people will remain here and no one can intimidate them,” Hariri added.

Timeline
  • 14 February 2020, 17:19

    Hariri: My decision is to achieve change and restructuring inside al-Mustaqbal Movement.

  • 14 February 2020, 17:13

    Hariri: How can there be tourism and markets for selling the produce without the Arab and Gulf brothers?

  • 14 February 2020, 17:11

    Hariri: Iran's cash money can solve the crisis of a party but cannot solve the crisis of a country.

  • 14 February 2020, 17:09

    Hariri: President Aoun knows that I respect him, but unfortunately I dealt with "two presidents" and I had to deal with a "shadow president."

  • 14 February 2020, 17:08

    Hariri: We support the organization of early elections and the country needs calm.

  • 14 February 2020, 17:07

    Hariri: The mentality of the wars of elimination wants to eliminate the PSP, the LF, the protest movement, Harirism and al-Mustaqbal Movement.

  • 14 February 2020, 17:06

    Hariri: Had the Paris II reforms been implemented 18 years ago, the country would not have reached this collapse.

  • 14 February 2020, 17:04

    Hariri: The political settlement has become something of the past and I affirm my alliance with Walid Jumblat.

  • 14 February 2020, 17:01

    Hariri: Suleiman Franjieh's allies prevented his election as president.

  • 14 February 2020, 17:00

    Hariri: We saw the settlement as a way to protect the country from civil strife.

  • 14 February 2020, 16:58

    Hariri: Rafik Hariri secured 24/7 power feed but who returned us to power rationing?

  • 14 February 2020, 16:57

    Hariri: They wasted seven out of 14 years in the name of the National Pact.

  • 14 February 2020, 16:56

    Hariri: The longest scheme of obstruction was staged in the wake of Rafik Hariri's assassination.

  • 14 February 2020, 16:56

    Hariri: They did not build anything in the country after Rafik Hariri's assassination.

  • 14 February 2020, 16:54

    Hariri: Claims that we are seeking the naturalization of refugees are a farce.

  • 14 February 2020, 16:53

    Hariri: They are seeking to assassinate Rafik Hariri once again by blaming him for the public debt and the economic collapse.

  • 14 February 2020, 16:53

    Hariri: Al-Mustaqbal Movement is the movement of Arabism, moderation and the civil state.

  • 14 February 2020, 16:51

    Hariri to supporters: Al-Mustaqbal Movement remains in your hearts and it will continue to irritate the haters.

  • 14 February 2020, 16:49

    Hariri: I have fought, learned and committed mistakes for 15 years.

  • 14 February 2020, 16:47

    Hariri: Rafik Hariri's assassination was a historic juncture and today Lebanon is facing a new historic juncture.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 12
Thumb thepatriot 14 February 2020, 17:00

"Hariri secured 24/7 power feed" ????? WTF...??

Thumb gma-bs-artist. 14 February 2020, 20:15

blablablablabla is correct mid nineties most of greater Beirut had 24/7 electricity till Israel bombed the distribution stations Jamhour and Bsalim.

Thumb doodle-dude 14 February 2020, 17:47

lol@ the Shia christian of European parents from dahieh and a deep and wide luv tunnel that is open for penetration by the public '24h24'.

Missing peace 14 February 2020, 17:52

I guess the crisis in lebanon is due to aliens from outer space because every single politician say it is not their fault, they had nothing to do with it, only the other parties obstructed them to implement a super mega plan to save the country...

and they believe the people of lebanon will trust them on it....tfeh

Thumb Candice 14 February 2020, 18:34

Dear Saad: Why worry about electricity in Lebanon when you can have my electricity 24/7?

Thumb gma-bs-artist. 14 February 2020, 20:18

Hariri coming late to the same conclusion about Bassil as Aoun's daughter and adviser Mirelle and son on law Chamel Roukoz.

Thumb galaxy 14 February 2020, 20:19

I have 'authorizated' skeletor to take your soul, shia pos.

Thumb gma-bs-artist. 14 February 2020, 20:23

Of course and I'm pretty sure Mirelle Aoun Hachem, Chamel Roukoz and Neemat Frem were also authorized by the KSA, the evangelicals of USA united with Mecca to attack the only Christian president and the shadow Christian president in all Arab World and destroy the political powers of the Catholics in Lebanon.

Thumb chrisrushlau 15 February 2020, 00:12

Are Sunnis in Lebanon getting ready to dump KSA and embrace their fellow Muslims for civil rights at home?

Thumb enterprise 16 February 2020, 08:16

lol @ the shia winner!:)

Thumb Crispy 16 February 2020, 14:53

Nice touch not commenting on chrisrushlau's post ↑ above ↑. Your check is in the mail.

Thumb Crispy 16 February 2020, 14:54

libanaisresilient as I said ↑, your check is in the mail. You get paid once even when you use different IDs, OK?