Marada movement head Sleiman Frangieh calls for national cooperation

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Marada Movement leader Sleiman Frangieh said on Wednesday that "the post-election stage should be a stage of understandings and dialogue, calling for "a review of the election law in the future."

Frangieh commented on the results of the elections one day after their announcement, pointing out that he "does not face a problem with the forces of change and does not consider them as its opponents." This comment comes after he has mentioned, in a previous statement, that he has reservations regarding the October 17 demonstrations in 2019.

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Frangieh then stated that the demonstrations were calls to hold everyone equally accountable and tarnish every official’s reputation as equally corrupt. His reservations come as he does not consider all officials corrupt, just as he believes there are both honest and corrupt people within the revolutionary movement.

Further commenting on the elections, the Marada leader questioned the calls for not reelecting Nabih Berri as Speaker of Parliament. Frangieh noted that no other candidate is being considered for this role in these fragile circumstances, saying: "What other option is offered?"

From his point of view, if national consensus does not occur then no government will be formed and this will lead the currently to further socio-economic and political decline. For this consensus to occur, the mobilization that occurred prior to the elections must be halted, otherwise the country will reach a stalemate and could be heading toward the unknown.

When asked about the upcoming Presidential elections, Frangieh said: "I will not be a tool for anyone, and my goal is not the presidency”. He concluded by stating that such matters are decided according to the circumstances at the time.

Frangieh previously confirmed that he believes that the current economic decline comes as a result of an accumulation of wrong political and economic decisions. He denies the allegations that “Hezbollah’s weapons were the reason behind the decline”. It is important to note that on Thursday, Frangieh had considered that the election results determine any strategic choice that Lebanon will take.