Nasrallah slams Saniora and Geagea, says not seeking two-thirds majority
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah lashed out Monday at ex-PM Fouad Saniora and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea without naming them, in connection with the heated electoral campaigns, as he noted that Hizbullah and its allies are not seeking to win a two-thirds majority in the new parliament.
“Winning two thirds of seats in the next parliament is not the objective of our political camp… Winning two thirds of seats is not a realistic objective,” Nasrallah said in a televised speech on the latest developments.
Accusing the U.S. embassy and electoral rivals of seeking to postpone the elections, allegedly to improve their chances, Nasrallah also noted that the elections face the possible hurdle of “the strike of a large number of judges, teachers and diplomatic mission employees.”
“This opens the door to filing challenges against the elections’ results, and we urge judges, teachers and diplomatic mission employees not to take the elections as a hostage for their legitimate demands,” Nasrallah added.
Addressing supporters, Nasrallah however pointed out that “real elections and a democratic, popular battle will be held on May 15.”
“Polls and estimations should not affect our efficacy and enthusiasm in all districts,” he added.
“We are keen on the representation of all parties according to their true sizes and we do not want to eliminate anyone,” he stressed.
“Since 2005, we have not been exclusionists. It was al-Mustaqbal Movement that refused the participation of the FPM in the government,” Nasrallah reminisced.
In an apparent jab at Saniora, Nasrallah said “the exclusionists are those who betted in 2006 on the crushing of the resistance.”
“They did not care about the absence of an entire sect,” Nasrallah added, referring to the resignation of the Shiite ministers from Saniora’s government.
And hitting out at Geagea, Nasrallah said: “The exclusionists are those who always present themselves to foreign forces as being ready to stir civil war, and they don't have an electoral program, seeing as their entire concern is focused on eliminating the resistance and disarming it, whereas we are keen on partnership and cooperation with everyone.”
“Those hitting out at the resistance's arms are only seeking to appease America, the West and some Arab regimes in order to win financial support,” Nasrallah added.
And stressing that Hizbullah does not want to “rule or control the country,” Nasrallah said his party wants to be “present in the state” to “prevent anyone from using the state to target the resistance or stab it in its back,” noting that that had almost happened in 1993 and 2006.
Source: Naharnet
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