Sfeir Criticizes State, Says Government Like Carriage Pulled by Opposing Horses
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir criticized in his Christmas message the Lebanese system of governance and violent political rhetoric.
"The state is not holding together and government resembles a carriage pulled by two horses, one to the front and the other backwards," Sfeir said Monday.
"Normally around the world (parliamentary) majority governs, and when defeated a minority takes over…every act that government intends to do is opposed, resisted and thwarted from within cabinet," he said.
Sfeir pointed to increasing unemployment and the effects of the international financial crisis, saying some Lebanese that used to work overseas have returned to Lebanon.
The Patriarch also urged the Lebanese to put their national interest first.
"If the country wins, all Lebanese would win, and vice versa. National interest must supersede everything. This won”t be achieved as long as we continue to hear a previously unknown political derogatory language," he said.
The Patriarch concluded in wishing all Lebanese and Christians in particular a Merry Christmas.