Lebanon voters face Hezbollah-independence choice
The head of Lebanon”s Western-backed majority bloc in parliament, Saad Hariri, said on Monday that the general election in June will be a straight choice between Hezbollah and the country”s sovereignty.
"Our course is justice, independence, freedom, sovereignty and most importantly — Lebanon first," Hariri told AFP in an interview, referring to his coalition backed by the West as well as Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
"That is not the case for the other side," he added, referring to the Hezbollah-led alliance backed by Syria and Iran.
Hariri, the son and political heir of slain ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, also insisted that if the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and its allies won the June 7 vote, he would not join the government.
"It is my democratic right not to take part in such a government and to be in the opposition," he said. "They are desperate for power, but not me."
The June election is being closely watched by the international community as it will determine whether Lebanese voters choose to maintain the course with a Western-backed alliance or opt for one headed by Hezbollah, which Washington considers a terrorist organisation.
Hariri said if his coalition wins, it will invite the opposition to join a unity government but on condition there is no blocking minority, as is currently the case.
"The current government is not functioning," he said. "Because there is a blocking minority and tension inside the government. Nobody is able to do anything. We haven”t been able to pass a budget, approve laws or reforms."
The government headed by Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, who is allied with Hariri, was formed last July following a presidential vacuum and political crisis that brought the country close to civil war.
The Hezbollah-led opposition at the time secured a one-third, veto-wielding share in the 30-member cabinet.
Hariri said he was confident that the sectarian bloodshed which shook the country last year, pitting his mainly Sunni alliance against Shiites, would not be repeated in the run-up to the vote.
"There was a tense speech in the past which is not there anymore," he said. "We now also have a president who is a stabilising factor."
He added that he believed the issue of Hezbollah”s weapons arsenal would be dealt with in time, as have other thorny issues such as relations with Syria or the setting up of an international tribunal to try the killers of his father in a February 2005 bomb blast on the Beirut seafront.
Hezbollah, which fought a devastating war with Israel in 2006, has refused to disarm despite intense local and international pressure. It argues that its weapons are solely to defend the country from Israeli aggression.
"I have always said that the issue of Hezbollah”s weapons must be dealt with through dialogue," Hariri said. "The June vote will give us the opportunity to reshuffle the cards … and try to come up with a better environment politically."
He said he was encouraging Lebanese abroad to cast their ballots but denied reports that his party was offering them plane tickets and cash to take part in the vote.
"We are telling people: “Yes you can be angry and upset but if you don”t cast your ballot on June 7, you have only yourself to blame if the outcome isn”t what you want,”" Hariri said.
Asked about his plans if the Hezbollah alliance wins the vote, Hariri replied, smiling: "I will go on a long vacation."