The member of the “Strong Republic” parliamentary bloc (Lebanese Forces), MP Pierre Bou Assi, assured that his party is not negatively attached to dialogue or any initiative, but is positively committed to the Constitution, which must be adhered to when any issue arises.
“We always think of the enduring population and their interests, while others think in the short term and submit to the militarily dominant party, not politically, namely ‘Hezbollah,’ as was the case in the Doha Agreement. He insisted that they will not accept the overthrow of the primary Christian position in the Lebanese Republic and the Middle East, “nor will we accept the undermining of the Constitution or submit to blackmail”.
In an interview with the Russian radio station “Sputnik”, he wondered how “some argue that the President of the Republic cannot govern with a slim majority, so why is it that the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, who governs ‘by the grace of God’ can govern with 65 votes—just one more than half—and bolster his position with Hezbollah’s weapons, disregarding the internal regulations and powers of Parliament?”
Bou Assi pointed out that “going to Doha is a sign of failure”. “We, as the Lebanese Forces, will not legitimize a pre-agreed deal on the presidency and undermine the constitution. If others want to do so, let them proceed without the Lebanese Forces,” he said.
He considered that “in the strategic game being witnessed in Lebanon and the region, neither ‘Hezbollah’ nor President Nabih Berri have a role”.
“It is Iran, with ‘the party’ being just a faction of the ‘Iranian Revolutionary Guard.’ They handle the military field details, but the strategic decision is certainly not in their hands,” he concluded.
