02-02-2009

Minister of Labor Mohammad Fneish said during the launching of Hezbollah's election campaign in the South that "we as a resistance will run in the elections as a cohesive bloc, especially in the South, where we will run alongside the Amal Movement."

He added that rival forces are spending money in some villages, and "we will deal with this team with utmost respect and professionalism, and they have the right to express themselves, even though we realize that they are spending political money to influence the people and their choices. But it is the responsibility of the authorities and security forces to implement the election law."

Fneish stated: "We will approach the elections with credibility and present our political-economic vision to address the economic crisis. The candidates must enjoy integrity and competence. Public indebtedness that plagues Lebanon is negatively affecting the people's lives through the taxes and fees and thereby hampering the economic growth of the country.

These elections will be held under the supervision of many observers and local figures, and many international officials are interested in these elections and their results. Our responsibility is to underscore our presence and prove that the Resistance is more popular, and its track is more acceptable than ever."

Fneish also said: "Whoever battles with us, especially in the South, knows very well that they have low chances of success. However, they insist on running in the elections and spending money and effort. They have started their electoral battle early in order to trim down our public support and reveal the failure of our political track. They want to reflect a distorted picture of the political reality to the outside."

He noted that "we are committed to the Taif Accord because the Lebanese agreed upon this charter to regulate their relations with each other and distribute powers and authorities. Improving the political regime in Lebanon cannot be achieved unless the Lebanese themselves are convinced of the need to develop this regime."

He also stressed that "the Resistance has never manipulated its role in internal equations, because it plays a national role. Those who oppose the Resistance attempt to drag it in internal issues and disputes."