MP Ibrahim Kanaan: Legislative elections are the solution

Source: Nowlebanon.com, 14-1-2008
MP Ibrahim Kanaan of the Change and Reform bloc said that the Free Patriotic Movement cannot be part of any axis outside Lebanon.
He also said that the biggest wrong committed by Lebanese factions was their decision to side with regional powers.
"All political factions have acted as such because of the absence of a strong state. Thus, Lebanon was turned into the frontline for the battle between the opposition and the pro-government party. I don't know to whom the presidential frontline belongs," Kanaan said.
He also said that opposition factions have agreed on the principle of participation because Lebanon cannot be rebuilt except on this basis.
"Yet this does not prevent divergent points of view over some undecided matters within the opposition," he added.
Kanaan reiterated the opposition's support for the presidential candidacy of Army Commander General Michel Sleiman.
"We are protecting the state through our insistence on preserving stability. The last attempt to thwart this stability was the politicization of the army and making it take sides with any of the feuding parties. The Lebanese army is a ‘red line,'" he added.
He also noted that foreign diplomats and envoys are excluding Rabieh from their visits because the FPM is seeking to preserve relations among all the components of the state.
Kanaan also said that political disagreement does not prevent the FPM from being close to Bkirki.
"The solution is through legislative, not presidential, elections. This does not mean that we are against presidential elections," Kanaan said.
"In the short- and long- term, legislative elections will bring new choices and serious dialogue to Lebanese factions," he added.
Kanaan said that the two schools of thought in Lebanese politics are based on either confrontation or understanding.