A statement was released by the President of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, today, Monday, reading: "Some were displeased when we said that the majority in this government commits high treason by leaving the Lebanese citizen, whether in the south or in all Lebanese regions, at the mercy of open-ended military events, without this majority taking responsibility for protecting the Lebanese citizen and ensuring his safety and stability. Not only has some in this government committed high treason, but they are also committing a minor treason by further depriving the already deprived Lebanese citizen of a few hours of electricity that were previously provided, especially after the Electricité du Liban raised electricity prices, which have now reached levels comparable to generator prices in the neighborhoods, and after our brotherly Iraq secured hundreds of thousands of tons of fuel over the past two years, and after we were promised time and again at least twenty hours of electricity.
The electricity crisis that has struck the country in the past two days is not the first of its kind, and it clearly indicates that the management of the electricity sector, as it has been for the past 15 years, is completely failed, and there is no indication that this management will change. Therefore, there remains only one solution, which is to immediately involve the private sector in the electricity generation and distribution process in Lebanon.
I address the head of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Works, Deputy Sjouj Atteiah, to expedite the discussion of one or more draft laws available to him to involve the private sector, and to send them to the joint committees as quickly as possible. Consequently, President Nabih Berri is requested to call for a legislative session under the most urgent necessity, as extricating the Lebanese citizen from darkness is the utmost necessity that requires the approval of a clear and explicit law in the Parliament for involving the private sector in electricity production and distribution in Lebanon."
