Lebanese "Shocked" after Sfeir΄s Electoral Positioning

Source: Al-Manar TV, 08-02-2009

118 days ahead of "fateful" parliamentary elections, Lebanese seem to be ready for a very fierce battle, filled with all sorts of surprises and blows...
Yet, the first "surprise" was already announced... Indeed, and without prior notice, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir decided to engage directly into the battle, taking obviously the side of one political bloc against another.

Speaking to Lebanese Forces magazine Al-Massira, Sfeir warned on Friday against the opposition's triumph in the elections, claiming that "historic mistakes" could happen if March 8 Forces come to power. "If power shifts to March 8 Forces and (US backed) March 14 Forces ceased to have power, mistakes would be committed that would weigh historically on the national fate," Sfeir said. "Everybody has to bear the responsibility," Sfeir stressed. "Some errors could have grave consequences."

While Sfeir's stances "surprised" the rival Lebanese factions especially that they believed he would remain at the same distance from all blocs, the first reaction came from former Prime Minister Omar Karami. Assailing Sfeir without naming him in particular, Karami criticized the religious authorities that intervene in politics. "Religious authorities should not get involved with alleyways of politics ... any clergyman who becomes a party to politics would be criticized," Karami said. "Unfortunately they (clergy) want this, so let them be responsible for it," he added.

Meanwhile, the Free Patriotic Movement (of General Michel Aoun) sources expressed their "shock" for Patriarch Sfeir's unexpected stance. The sources stressed on the serious need for Bkirki to preserve its "centrist" position for everyone especially in the elections' stage.

"I really wish from all my heart as an oriental Maronite that Patriarch Sfeir will deny the stances attributed to him by the LF magazine," member of Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Kamil Khoury told Al-Manar. "I really wish to hear someone saying that there was no accuracy in reporting Sfeir's positions because I cannot imagine Bkirki taking a side of one Lebanese bloc against another."

"Bkirki is a reference that should unite all Lebanon not separate them," Khoury said, adding that portraying the opposition's triumph in the elections as a danger on Lebanon was very dangerous.

Gemayel Says Sfeir's Concerns Are Fateful

Meanwhile, the so-called March 14 forces felt satisfied with Patriarch Sfeir's stance and found in it a factor to "strengthen" their "weak" alliance on the eve of the elections.
Former President Amin Gemayel told Lebanese daily An-Nahar on Sunday that Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir does not deal with minor political issues but instead expresses concerns for Lebanon's future, destiny, sovereignty and independence, including restricting decisions of war and peace to legitimate institutions.

He added that the Cedar Revolution was inspired by Sfeir's stances on the concept of sovereignty.