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ELECTIONS 2022

FPM leader Gebran Bassil issues heated criticisms of political rivals

FPM leader Gebran Bassil issues heated criticisms of political rivals

FPM leader MP Gebran Bassil on Saturday announces his party's electoral lists during a speech at the Forum de Beyrouth. (Credit: Tayyar.org)

BEIRUT — Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Gebran Bassil on Saturday delivered an angry speech where he issued several broadsides against political rivals, whom he did not name, ahead of the Parliamentary elections scheduled for May 15.

Here’s what we know:

    • In a speech delivered on the occasion of the launching of the FPM’’s electoral lists, Bassil accused his opponents of aiming to undermine the presidency of his father-in-law, Michel Aoun.

    • “They did not accept the presidency of Michel Aoun. They planned his failure because … they want to defeat the mandate of the strong president,” he said in a bid to defend Aoun’s tenure as Lebanon has been rocked by severe economic, social and financial crises.

    • “Our battle is to regain the Presidency of the Republic,” Bassil added, in an allusion to his potential candidacy for the post after his father-in-law’s term finishes at the end of October 2022.

    • The FPM leader also defended his political ally, Hebollah, saying that his party’s “battle is against the bearers of the lie that Iran occupies Lebanon.” His comment was an allusion to the criticisms against the Iran-backed organization leveled by the Lebanese Forces, Kataeb Party and other political groups.

    • Bassil turned his sights on Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea during his speech, accusing the rival Maronite political leader of attempting to “murder the country country with foreigners’ money,” an implicit reference to widespread perceptions Saudi Arabia provides funding to the LF.

    • Bassil also claimed that his party’s opponents had worked to obstruct reforms.

    • “We apologize for not being able to build a state,” Bassil said, adding that his party’s plans for 24-hour electricity coverage, capital controls in favor of depositors and other initiatives had been stymied by unnamed opponents. Bassil’s FPM has exerted considerable influence over the Energy Ministry since he assumed the ministry from 2009 to 2014. 

BEIRUT — Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Gebran Bassil on Saturday delivered an angry speech where he issued several broadsides against political rivals, whom he did not name, ahead of the Parliamentary elections scheduled for May 15.Here’s what we know:    • In a speech delivered on the occasion of the launching of the FPM’’s electoral lists, Bassil accused his opponents of...