The "Future Movement" responded to the statements made by the President of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil, during his press conference today. They remarked that the "lengthy discourse heard by the Lebanese regarding the government, the constitution, and the criteria is simply a repetition of positions that do not carry anything new and do not open even a small gap in the walls of obstruction and paralysis."
A statement issued by the "Future Movement" noted that "Bassil's discourse included everything that can be attributed to him, as he threw out the reasons for his failure and obstruction, the suspension of constitutional work, and comments about betrayal, stabbing in the back, and lack of loyalty towards President Saad Hariri, to hold him responsible for the dysfunction that the presidency and his political team are suffering from." The "Future Movement" considered that Bassil "is still living in 'La La Land,' imposing upon the presidency a form of house arrest in denial of the changes that emerged after October 17, and considers Hariri's resignation and his response to the popular movement as a form of political betrayal."
The statement added: "Bassil has overlooked the fact that the requirements of honesty and loyalty, in President Hariri's dictionary, are tied to loyalty to the supreme national interest and the urgent demands of citizens, not to private relationships and personal interests." They continued: "It is unfortunate that the Lebanese witness through Bassil's verbal grinding, the transfer of the presidential decision from Baabda Palace to the Merna al-Chalouhi Center, and listen to the head of the ruling party as if he were the exclusive spokesman for the strong presidency."
The statement said: "However, to summarize the essence of what has been said: with Gebran, the ball cannot be played. In any case, what matters to President Hariri is what is directly issued by the President of the Republic, not through intermediaries; what has been said remains mere dreams, with the note that no one has offered Bassil to participate in the government, and his attempt to mislead the Lebanese into thinking there is pressure on him to join is simply laughable."
The "Future Movement" concluded: "A final word, the ongoing attempt to inflame sectarian tensions will not succeed, Gebran, no matter how much you strive to drive wedges between Muslims and Christians. Christians understand that their rights are different from the personal interests you seek, and these rights are safeguarded by all Lebanese who are committed to protecting their shared existence. It is enough that the approach of the Maronite Patriarchate serves as a good witness and guarantor of national unity and is the best authority to confront the voices of incitement."
