Lebanon: Bassil Says FPM Does Not Want to Participate in New Government

  Bassil considered that there are no words of consolation to the families of the victims of the Beirut port blast, except when the truth is revealed. “A new judge has been appointed, and this is an opportunity to speed-up the file and correct many judicial errors in this dossier,” Bassil said. The FPM leader criticized the imprisonment of some employees under the pretext of “job negligence”, while those accused of “premeditated murder” are outside prison. Bassil also criticized those calling for an “international investigation”, saying that this would lead to an unknown destination. “We want a bold, clean and effective judiciary,” Bassil underscored. Commenting on the impasse in forming the government, he stressed that other political parties want the Free Patriotic Movement to participate in the new government, but on their own terms, and then accuse the party of obstructing the formation. “We do not want to participate! Is it by force?” Bassil asked. “We accept any solution that respects the charter, abides by the constitution and protects rights, but they understood our indulgence as weakness and the silence about the daily abuse as a defeat,” he corroborated. Bassil accused some politicians of wearing “guardianship” attire, showing superiority and violating the rights and dignity of others, while stressing that “our internal unity protects us from external attacks.” The MP revealed that some political factions are working to keep President Aoun’s mandate without forming a government, even if the country collapses, just because they want President Michel Aoun to step down. Source: NNA