Hizbullah Announces Platform, Emphasizes Need for Reform

Source: Al-Manar TV, 6-4-2009

The head of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohammad Raad announced on Monday Hizbullah electoral platform during a press conference he held at the Jinan Hall along the airport road in Beirut's southern suburb, in the presence of all Hizbullah candidates for the elections.

Hizbullah candidates for the elections were declared by Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah on Wednesday. They included, in addition of Raad (Nabatieh), Minister Mohammad Fneish and Nawwaf Moussawi (Tyr), MP Hassan Fadlallah (Nabatieh), Ali Fayyad (Hasbayya), Hussein Moussawi as well as MPs Hussein Hajj Hasan, Nawwar Saheli and Ali Mokdad (Baalbeck), MP Ali Ammar (Baabda), Amin Cherri (Beirut-2).

Hizbullah electoral platform included a political introduction followed by a number of headlines that tackled various internal affairs, mainly reform under its various forms, meaning political, administrative, economic and financial reforms. Under these general titles, the platform tackled several titles such as the electoral law, the Lebanese judicial system, decentralization, education, environment, media as well as the role of women in society.

In the political introduction, the platform stresses that the upcoming elections should be considered as a gateway to revitalize the political life in Lebanon. It points out that the country could only be protected through dialogue and understanding, urging everyone to stick to unity for the country's interest.

While noting that Lebanon has passed through hard times since the international resolution numbered 1559, which paved the way for internal strife, was released, Hizbullah emphasizes that its understanding with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) strengthened peace among the Lebanese and greatly affected the steadfastness of the Lebanese during the "Israeli" July 2006 war against the country. The platform also emphasizes that the national opposition was able to regain a patriotic and all-embracing image, which is not hostage to sects.

Hizbullah platform then tackles the Resistance issue, noting that any strategy of defense must be based on the kind of logic that sees a need to make use of the resistance's expertise and capabilities to strengthen the Army. The platform makes reference to the "Israeli" 2006 war against Lebanon and the victory achieved by the Resistance, a victory that was luminous, as admitted by the whole world and the "Israeli" enemy.

The Resistance party's platform also stresses the importance of establishing a national body for the abolition of political sectarianism as stipulated by the Taif accord. "We are committed to the Taif Accord, and this pushes us to struggle for a balanced power that practices the law, respects freedom, administers public affairs and resolves economic and development problems... a power that does not increase the debt, paralyze the judicial system and unequally develop regions," the platform reads.

Furthermore, the Hizbullah electoral platform, as read out by MP Raad, also calls for a reduction in sustained development and for securing the independence of the judiciary. It calls for the adoption of a modern electoral law and to complete a constitutional amendment that would lower the voting age.

Economically, the platform points out that there is an urgent need for sustained development in the economic sectors, a steady GDP, and an end to the cycle of budget deficit.