Soaid From Bkirki: Christian Vote to Determine Outcome of Decisive Elections
Coordinator of the General-Secretariat of March 14 Forces Fares Soaid said that Christian votes would mainly determine the 2009 parliamentary elections.
Following his meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallh Butros Sfeir on Friday, Soaid who is running for the Maronite seat in the northern district of Jbeil briefed Sfeir on the latest developments in the electoral race.
“What happened in Jbeil yesterday has placed the electoral battle in its right place and has provided positive ramifications throughout Lebanon…this places the Christians in front of two choices, the single state, or the statelet that works on hindering state formation and functionality. The symbol of the Jbeil battle is centered from the very beginning on this concept,” Soaid said.
He told reporters that he has assured the patriarch that all necessary preparations to ensure that the Christians would heavily vote in the elections.
Soaid stressed that Christians should vote according to their personal convictions.
He paid tribute to former parliamentary candidate Emile Naufal (an independent), who pulled out of the electoral race on Thursday describing his stance as patriotic saying Naufal is a great man.
He calmed voters against any possible security breaches saying: “Don’t be afraid, our Shiite brethren are aware as we are…vote heavily.”