ByNews Desk- The Cradle
The leader of the popular Free Patriotic Movement has had a political alliance with Hezbollah for almost two decades
“There are several foreign parties that sought the collapse of the Lebanese state, and this idea was reinforced under the former US Donald Trump administration,” Bassil stated.
The FPM leader stated that Lebanese Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh contributed greatly to the economic meltdown by tanking the Lebanese currency for personal and electoral gains.
“What kind of protection [does he have so that] when a judge issues a ruling against the Governor of the Banque du Liban and the ruling is not implemented by the state apparatus?,” Bassil asked.
Riad Salameh has been charged by the Lebanese judiciary with the crime of illicit enrichment, and is currently under investigation by several European states on similar charges of financial corruption.
A Lebanese judge had previously issued a travel ban against Salameh, as well as a warrant for his arrest. However, when the warrant was carried out, Internal Security Forces (ISF) reportedly interfered, protecting Salameh from being captured, a move which was likely caused by the direct intervention of US ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea.
Salameh is a close partner of the US Embassy in Lebanon.
Bassil was sanctioned by the US government on 6 November 2020 due to FPM’s alliance with Hezbollah.
Bassil stressed that the Christian-Muslim alliance between FPM and Hezbollah helps to strengthen the sovereignty of the state and defend against foreign interference. “I believe that protecting the arms that protect the state and the priority of building a state go hand-in-hand,” Bassil noted.
The Lebanese politician stressed that people should acknowledge the sacrifices of the resistance to protect all Lebanese people from Israeli aggression and occupation.
Bassil also accused several Lebanese political parties of colluding with foreign powers, such as Saudi Arabia, while noting that there has not been any direct Saudi funding in the elections. “We seek an amicable relationship with Saudi Arabia that is not based on dependency nor monetary gains,” Bassil clarified.
According to a 26 April report from the Lebanese daily Al Akhbar, an employee within the office of the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon, Marwan S., has been working directly with former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to garner votes to his political party and allies.
Such interference does not involve direct funding by the Saudi embassy, but rather relies on gathering support from wealthy businessmen, according to the report.
Saudi Arabia has also been a staunch supporter of the far-right Lebanese Forces (LF) political party, which is made up of members of the Christian demographic.
LF leader Samir Geagea was charged by a Lebanese court for his role in orchestrating the 14 October 2021 Tayouneh massacre, in which unarmed protesters from Hezbollah, Amal, and Marada movements were fired at in a pre-planned ambush of snipers, later identified as part of LF.
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