Sheikh Qassem: Electoral money in South Lebanon was spent in vain and would only affect the weaklings

24-02-2009

Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said in an interview with al-Akhbar daily on Tuesday that the electoral money in South Lebanon was spent in vain and would not affect those who were politically affiliated with any party. "It would only affect the weak or those indifferent to the elections," he said.

Sheikh Qassem that his party was committed to hold the upcoming parliamentary elections in one day in accordance with the electoral law.

He said Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun only requested holding the elections in one day for security concerns. "The fears are legitimate, especially since no one could anticipate the problems that could emerge, and some would benefit from the situation," Qassem said.

Qassem said that the elections would be held regardless, since neither the opposition coalition nor the March 14 alliance had any interest in obstructing them, especially since each party's pre-election polls forecasted victory. He said Arab and international political powers would be watching the elections.

Qassem also said that the opposition would run in the elections with unified lists across Lebanon. "We hope to lead an honorable competition against all those running in all districts," he said.

He said that some electoral districts would be won by the minority, some by the majority and some would witness fierce competition. However, he said that the minority would still run in majority-affiliated districts to prove its weight and to set a new political trend there. He confirmed that the opposition did not want any settlements, "rather it wants a general electoral battle without settlements, whether under or above the table."

Qassem also said that no faction in Lebanon could rule the country alone, noting that the opposition wanted to form a national unity cabinet if it won the elections. He said that despite the presence of foreign backing in the run-up to the polls, "its significance lays in its purely domestic preparations."

Qassem added that Hizbullah was committed to the Doha Agreement and confirmed that it did not hold any discussions with Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri or his party. However, "Hizbullah would be committed to any mechanism reached to implement the agreement," he said.

He also said that the opposition had started detailed discussions on the names of the candidates and the electoral lists, which would be announced mid-March, adding that there was no problem too hard for the opposition to resolve.

"The problem between Speaker Nabih Berri and General Michel Aoun is [false], since there was no meeting between the two. But there were suggested names, and when things [are discussed] each one will concede to the other," he said.