MP Michel Daher stated that the demands put forward by MP Gibran Bassil concern everyone and guide us toward salvation, urging a move away from demonizing the man and advocating for a constructive opposition that is separate from politics.
The National News Agency reported Daher’s clarification via a tweet where he emphasized that he is not defending Gibran Bassil, especially after his withdrawal from the Strong Lebanon Bloc. Daher pointed to the positive aspects of Bassil's statements today, particularly regarding the approval of forensic auditing, reforms, and capital control. He confirmed that these demands are relevant to everyone and set us on the path to salvation, calling for a reduction in demonizing the man and insisting that the opposition should be constructive and detached from politics.
Meanwhile, George Okais, a member of the "Strong Republic" bloc, criticized Gibran Bassil's statements, questioning the reforms he implemented during his tenure in successive governments. The National News Agency earlier reported on a sarcastic tweet by Okais regarding the Christian rights allegedly wasted by the Free Patriotic Movement, stating "Bassil and Christian Rights: The Free Patriotic Movement has a notable history of preserving Christian rights, starting with liberating the state from militia weapons, specifically among Christians, but stopped there, costing the Christian community thousands of lives, imposing the Taif Agreement on them."
Okais noted that Bassil attacked all Lebanese citizens in his press conference, especially Christians and their parties, stating that the only two entities showing him any affection were Hezbollah and Bashar al-Assad. Okais highlighted Bassil's claim that Christian rights can only be secured through an alliance with them, placing this message before Christians. He criticized Bassil's failure to mention Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi in his speech, saying, "The Maronite Patriarchate, which was behind the establishment of Greater Lebanon in 1920 and the second independence in 2005, is not regarded under Bassil and his uncle's era in a way that warrants attention when discussing Christian rights."
In response to Bassil's statement that he should be given reforms in exchange for a government, Okais questioned, "You held governments for a long time, what did you reform?" He concluded, "I am an MP for the Lebanese Forces, and the Christians I represent are looking for a state, for institutions, for a future, not for shares and bravado in a state of nothingness, collapse, and isolation from the world while leaning towards the Axis of Resistance."
The leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gibran Bassil, remarked in a televised speech, "Give us the reforms and take the government. O Lebanese Judiciary, remove the cup of international jurisdiction; they want us to participate in the government against our will with unacceptable conditions, otherwise, they accuse us of obstruction."
