Former Deputy Prime Minister, MP Ghassan Hasbani, denied claims from “Ain al-Tineh” that the Lebanese Forces (LF) are the only party opposing Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. “Ain al-Tineh is trying to isolate the LF,” he said, adding that all opposition parties share the same positions.
In an interview with “Voice of All Lebanon,” Hasbani stated, “We have proven that MPs can consult with each other without anyone presiding, as we did recently when over 95 MPs discussed the opposition’s roadmap.”
He reiterated that Berri should hold a session for electing a President in open rounds, emphasizing that “the constitution relies on MPs’ goodwill and did not anticipate obstruction.” He added, “The constitution does not require prior formal dialogue to elect the President. Any new convention outside the constitution will cause a greater collapse.”
Hasbani noted that the “Hezbollah” and “Amal” blocs are delaying meetings with opposition forces to review their presidential roadmap. “The Parliament is hijacked,” he asserted, “and its Speaker holds the key,” insisting he (Berri) is the gateway to choosing the President, not electing him. “The most dangerous statement is that they will not open the Parliament until they know who the next President is,” he added.
On early parliamentary elections, Hasbani explained that this step would not modify the current balance of power as it would produce a similar Parliament.
Regarding the southern front, Hasbani raised concerns about Hezbollah’s involvement in the war, asking why other fronts like Syria, Jordan and Egypt did not intervene. “Because all countries use diplomatic, financial, and moral pressure to stop the war that Hamas initiated,” he added.
He highlighted that “if the international community is concerned, it should support implementing Resolution 1701, which imposes state authority over all Lebanese territories. Lebanon is incurring significant costs, and eventually, we will reach the implementation of 1701 or a similar resolution.”
