Michel Moawad, President of the Independent Movement, welcomed US Ambassador Dorothy Shea to his Baabda office on Friday to discuss the upcoming presidential elections, as well as the issue of Syrian migrants.
During the meeting, Moawad stressed “the imperative need to elect a new president while steering clear of dominance and obstructionist tactics.”
Moawad outlined the qualifications he believes the future president should possess, emphasizing “the importance of restoring respect for the Constitution, reaffirming the sovereignty of the State, and bringing order to governmental institutions.”
Additionally, he believes the head of state “should have the capability to execute international decisions, demarcate borders, rescue Lebanon from political isolation, and reinstate its influential role within Arab and international circles.”
It would be the responsibility of the new president “to instigate the necessary structural reforms to secure an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), safeguard depositors’ rights, and invigorate economic growth,” Moawad continued.
The discussion also focused on the Syrian refugee crisis, with Moawad underlining the need to avoid two extremes in this delicate matter, which includes “refraining from employing racist rhetoric against refugees but also not maintaining the status quo, which poses a substantial economic burden on the country and jeopardizes Lebanon’s security and social cohesion.”
Moawad called on the Lebanese government “to take the required measures and decisions to address this critical issue instead of relying on empty populist slogans.”
He further urged the international community “to shoulder its responsibilities and adopt alternative approaches to prevent Lebanon from sinking further under the weight of the migratory influx, as the inevitable consequence of this would spell catastrophe for all.”
