Khamenei Fatwa Allowed Nasrallah to Keep his Position as Hizbullah Leader
Hizbullah”s General Conference ended speculations regarding keeping its Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in his current position, following a Fatwa (religious decree) by Iran”s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei allowing him to maintain his top post.
The Kuwaiti daily al-Rai said that the conference is mulling naming senior Hizbullah commander Mustapha Shehadeh to succeed the late military leader Imad Mughniyeh, who was assassinated in Damascus last February.
Hizbullah”s internal system does not allow the extension of Nasrallah”s current term. The party”s secretary-general, under the system, can only be elected for two, not more, consecutive terms. Khamenei”s Fatwa, however, came in his favor.
Al-Rai said that circles within Hizbullah displayed their disappointment regarding news by an Iranian daily naming Nasrallah”s expected successor, Hashem Safieddine who heads the party”s Shura Council.
The paper said Safieddine, who is Nasrallah”s maternal cousin, is far removed from the spotlight, describing him as an individual occupied with "managing" the party”s wide and complex executive "government."
Safieddine is being treated by Hizbullah as the party”s expected successor to Nasrallah in case of any emergency, according to al-Rai.
It said Hizbullah began its conference a few weeks ago, and will end its work soon. The conference, which is held every four years, is expected to produce a new vision concerning changes on the political and military levels.