Sukkarieh Warned against Buying Votes

3-2-2009

In an interview with Ad-Diyar daily on Tuesday, Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Ismail Sukkarieh said the national dialogue would not bear fruit. However, he encouraged its continuance, as "it had spread an atmosphere of calm."

He added any decision taken to set the defense strategy would be illogical, since Lebanese factions had different views on Lebanon's role amid the changing regional and international scenes.

Sukkarieh said the formation of a centrist bloc was difficult, especially with the current political divide in the country. He also said he hoped a centrist non-political gathering would be established and would have its primary goals to counter corruption, build state institutions and enforce the law.
"Amid this conflict, we cannot talk about a centrist bloc, which would be official, [yet it would lack substance.] Our political atmosphere does not encourage forming a centrist party or a centrist role," he said.
Sukkarieh warned against buying votes, which would negatively affect the upcoming parliamentary elections.