Salameh Case: Bassil applauds Hajjar for prioritizing "justice over system interests"

The leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Member of Parliament (MP) Gebran Bassil, expressed his satisfaction with the arrest of the former Banque du Liban (BDL) governor, Riad Salameh, who was detained last Tuesday. Salameh faces charges of "embezzlement, theft of public funds, forgery and illicit enrichment." In his third statement following Salameh's arrest, which has been a point of contention for Bassil and his party, Bassil praised the efforts of the Acting Public Prosecutor Jamal Hajjar for ordering the arrest.

Bassil described the development as "symbolic," emphasizing its significance in the broader context of ongoing legal actions against Salameh in various European countries. "Riad Salameh is supported by the system and faces the entire Lebanese people. His arrest, even if only for two days, is a victory for the Lebanese people, and this is due to a judge who dared and put justice before the interests of the system," Bassil said in a speech at a FPM event in Batroun.

“The curse of the Lebanese and God”.

Bassil added, "No judge, regardless of their sect or political affiliation, can release Riad Salameh because the curse of the Lebanese people and God will pursue him." He emphasized that his party would "not remain silent" on this matter, whether before the courts or in public protests. "And no one will stop us from seeking international justice if Lebanese justice fails us," he declared, noting that the FPM has been one of Salameh's most vocal critics, "because it is not a corrupt party."

A hearing for Riad Salameh is scheduled for Monday before Interim Investigating Judge Bilal Halaoui in Beirut after the case was referred to him by the financial public prosecutor's office. The judge will decide whether to issue a warrant for Salameh’s arrest.

Consensus, dialogue and consultation

When discussing the Gaza war and the involvement of Hezbollah, normally an ally of the FPM but with whom relations have been at a low ebb for months, Gebran Bassil reiterated his usual position. “We are in favor of defending Lebanon against Israel but against its involvement in wars that do not benefit it”.

Hezbollah's unilateral decision to go to war on Oct. 8, 2023, the day after the Hamas attack on Israel and the start of Israel's bloody offensive in Gaza, is one of the reasons why ties between the Aounists and Hassan Nasrallah's party have become so strained. These tensions are compounded by the FPM's criticism of Hezbollah for supporting the Lebanese presidential candidacy of Sleiman Frangieh, leader of the Marada Movement and Bassil's political opponent. On this subject, the MP for Batroun pointed out that, while “the FPM has declared from day one that it does not want a president affiliated to it, it refuses to have a choice or a president imposed on it”, calling for “consensus, dialogue and consultations” between the various parties.

Bassil’s Response to Geagea

As for the party itself, Gebran Bassil felt that what was “politically expected of the FPM is that it regain its pre-2018 popularity”, stressing that it must “acknowledge mistakes, without assuming faults that are not of its own making”. The party has been rocked in recent months by a wave of departures or dismissals of several Aounist members, including deputies Elias Bou Saab, Alain Aoun, Ibrahim Kanaan and Simon Abi Ramia. “Media campaigns and sanctions launched against us have failed, and now we're being targeted from within” the country itself, said the FPM leader, who is subject to US sanctions for corruption and links with Hezbollah.

“A Christian leader recently said that the disintegration of the FPM is in Lebanon's interest. This statement is only addressed to those who are trying to manipulate Tayyar (FPM) from within,” he added, alluding to a statement made on Thursday evening by Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea, Bassil's other major political opponent. “Although insiders and outsiders have joined forces to dismantle us, we will respond that we are committed, united and stronger than ever”, he declared.

This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.