Exclusive: Upcoming elections draw Lebanon's strategic path: Frangieh

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The head of the Marada Movement, Sleiman Frangieh, said today, Thursday, in an exclusive interview for Al Mayadeen that "the [upcoming] elections will draw which strategic choice Lebanon will undertake."

Frangieh considered that the current economic situation is the result of accumulations, stressing that Hezbollah's arms have nothing to do with it and that the Resistance is the only side capable of protecting the country’s resources.

The head of the #MaradaMovement, Sleiman Frangieh, to #AlMayadeen: I consider that the current economic situation is the result of accumulations and that Hezbollah's arms have nothing to do with it. https://t.co/SyjPhX7QlZ

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 12, 2022

With regard to the parliamentary elections, the head of the Marada Movement considered that there is no anticipated problem that could hinder holding the elections on Sunday, saying, "From what I know and what I heard from ambassadors, no one is interested in disrupting the elections," confirming that many countries do interfere in Lebanon.

He added that the major countries are making every effort to gain more cards at the negotiating table. “We do not want to be one of these cards," he stressed, noting that Washington and other countries were expecting different results from the elections.

Regarding Hezbollah's weapons, he said, "There are many countries, spearheaded by the United States, that want to disarm Hezbollah, but at the same time, they aim at putting pressure on Hezbollah in order to negotiate with Iran."

The head of the #MaradaMovement, Sleiman Frangieh, to #AlMayadeen: There are many countries, spearheaded by the #UnitedStates, that want to disarm Hezbollah, but at the same time, they aim at putting pressure on Hezbollah in order to negotiate with #Iran. https://t.co/5vfCPhs9ig

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 12, 2022

The Marada Movement chief pointed out that "it is normal for any citizen to demand having legitimate weapons in the hands of one side only, but we are in an exceptional country with exceptional circumstances due to the [continuous] Israeli threats." He expressed his fear that the persistence of the state whereby one party insists on disarming Hezbollah and another insists on holding on to it will lead to war, stressing that "dialogue is the solution.”

Regarding his presidential candidacy, Frangieh said he is not a candidate for the presidency, but pointed out that he would be proud if he was nominated by his political team. He affirmed that he will not undergo the presidential race without the support of his political allies, even if the opposing team supported him.

The Lebanese leader said that his party is ready to meet with the Free Patriotic Movement after the elections and start a new phase, considering that there is no concrete evidence that confirms the existence of a relationship between the Lebanese Forces Party and "Israel", but nothing guarantees its non-existence.

Frangieh hoped that all candidates supporting his political team will win.

Regarding the elections that took place outside Lebanon, he stressed that the expatriate voting file was based on political spite, noting that there was a party that was allowed to freely move abroad, while another group was prevented from doing so.

Talking about his relationship with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Frangieh saw that everyone should have supported Aoun in order to bear responsibility and not escape during the crisis.

Regarding the October 17 demonstrations in 2019, Frangieh saw that the problem back then was the calls for holding all parties accountable alike, stressing that he does not consider everyone corrupt just as there are honest and corrupt people within the revolutionary movement.

Commenting on former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's boycott of the elections, the head of the Marada Movement indicated that Hariri's seclusion led to a vacuum, noting that the former PM's isolation from the political arena came as a result of pressure. He added that Sunnis in Lebanon know who was honest with them and who was not.

Concerning the demarcation of borders with the Israeli occupation, Frangieh noted that it is possible for the US to request the demarcation and to abandon their allies in return, adding that it is not possible to exclude Russia from the equation, while also noting that Moscow is not present in the Lebanese arena.

With respect to foreign ambassadors' interference in Lebanese politics, Frangieh stressed that there is a law that governs the movement of ambassadors in Lebanon, refusing at the same time to target any ambassador. He indicated that the Lebanese authorities themselves allowed some embassies to violate laws.

As for the relationship with Syria, Frangieh stressed that the relationship with Damascus will ever be weakened, affirming that President Bashar Al-Assad is an ally, friend, and brother. All bets on the fall of Syria have failed, and President Al-Assad emerged as a hero from a global war waged against his country, Frangieh indicated.

With regard to Palestine, he said that [back then] “in the Arab summits, they used to support the Resistance, and at least they openly declared their hostility to Israel,” but the Americans, he added, "planted sectarian susceptibility.” Frangieh said, “We hope that everyone will return to upholding the Palestinian cause as their compass, and Arabism unites us all. I am saying that as a Christian.”

The head of the #MaradaMovement, Sleiman #Frangieh: We hope that everyone will return to upholding the #Palestinian cause as their compass, and Arabism unites us all. I am saying that as a Christian. https://t.co/uVy9p37Jq5

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 12, 2022