Hariri Says Boycott and Votes for Rival Beirut Lists are 'Votes for Hizbullah'
Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the leader of al-Mustaqbal Movement, warned Friday that any vote that goes to one of the many rival lists in Beirut's second district would be a “vote for Hizbullah.”
“With all due respect to all candidates and lists, this election is actually a confrontation between two camps, two approaches and two wills. It is between a camp that wants to protect Beirut's political, national, Arab and Beiruti identity, and another that wants to put its hand on Beirut's decision and on Beirut's identity,” said Hariri at a ceremony to announce Mustaqbal's electoral list for Beirut's second district.
“The confrontation in this election is between your list – 'The Future for Beirut' -- and the list of Hizbullah. Any voter who stays home on May 6 would be voting for Hizbullah... Any voter who votes for a list other than The Future for Beirut list would be eventually serving Hizbullah's interest,” Hariri added.
“These are fateful elections par excellence,” the premier warned.
Referring to Hizbullah's military takeover of Beirut on May 7, 2008, Hariri said “The May 7 we are awaiting this year will witness a response to the May 7 (operation) that had failed 10 years ago.”
“It failed to usurp Beirut's dignity through the force of arms, and you, Beirut's people from all sects, will not allow it to usurp Beirut through ballot boxes,” the premier emphasized.
At least six electoral lists will compete in Beirut's second district in the May 6 elections.
6 years
he is a sad joke.
6 years
he is right but it might be too late, the sunnis are all over the place again. they will probably lose this one to hezbollah, and this will lead to unrest over time. even if he comes back as PM he will be weak and without voice, Hezballa will over power him and his weak allies will desert him. hope for best, a Hezballa controlled parliament is a disaster
He tries to rally his sunni community against hezbollah and then he shares the same government with them and is allied in the elections with hezbollah's main ally, the FPM.