Presidency Hits Back at ex-PMs over Port Blast Accusations

The Presidency press office responded Friday to the statement of the ex-prime ministers condemning the subpoena issued by the port blast lead investigator Judge Tarek Bitar against caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab.

The press office said in a statement that the terms used by the ex-PMs -- Saad Hariri, Najib Miqati, Fouad Saniora and Tammam Salam -- about a “veiled justice” and a “politicized judiciary” are “insulting” and “disgraceful” to the judiciary.

It added that the timing of the statement is “suspicious,” seeing as President Michel Aoun is “making an effort to form a government” that will help the Lebanese “who are suffering through severe hardship.”

The Presidency also said that “it is really regrettable for the aforementioned statement to include an accusation against Mr. President regarding the issue of the disastrous bombing at Beirut port on August 4, 2020, whereas Mr. President had put himself at the disposal of the investigative judge.”