Hizbullah Launches Electoral Platform, Vows to Work for Elimination of Political Sectarianism
MP Mohammed Raad on Monday launched Hizbullah”s electoral platform which commits the party to pursuing economic, judicial and political reforms, notably the abolition of political sectarianism.
Under the banner of "Resist with Your Vote," the platform reaffirms Hizbullah”s adherence to a policy of "partnership, consensus and state-building based on the rule of law, institutions and combating corruption," Raad told a press conference held in the southern suburbs and attended by the party”s candidates.
"On the eve of elections, we are called upon to refocus political choices after several crises (were resolved) and placed the country on the path of stability," he said.
"The 2009 polls represent a gateway to revive political life and to reaffirm the standards of belief that Lebanon is a country and not an arena," added Raad who heads Hizbullah”s Royalty to the Resistance bloc in Parliament.
Raad called for the formation of "a higher committee that would work for the abolition of political sectarianism, draft a modern electoral law based on relativism of representation, complete a constitutional amendment that would lower the voting age in addition to separating parliament from cabinet."
On the issue of arms, "the resistance places its resources and capabilities in the service of Lebanon," he said.
A national strategy of defense must "take advantage of the expertise and capabilities of the resistance and the army and must draft a plan to develop and boost these skills … in order to help the army confront the Israeli threat against our land and water resources," he added.
Raad stressed on the need for dialogue and national unity to safeguard Lebanon, pointing out to the successful alliance between Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement.
He criticized U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 for "paving the way for internal strife."
"We are preachers of national unity. The historic agreement with the FPM formed a pioneer step toward boosting internal peace," Raad said, accrediting the alliance for influencing Lebanon”s "steadfastness" during the 2006 war.
Other points of focus in the platform included calls for reviving the Ministry of Planning to ensure sustained development in addition to reforms in the fields of education, media and the environment.