Lebanon Christian politician says vote delay would lead to country’s ‘slow death’

Beirut – December 1 (Online): One of Lebanon’s main Christian politicians accused foe Hezbollah and its allies of working to postpone a parliamentary election set for March over fears of electoral losses, warning such a move would condemn Lebanon to a “slow death”.

Western donors that Lebanon is relying on to stem its financial implosion have said the vote must go ahead. Politicians from all sides, including Shi’ite Muslim Hezbollah, have repeatedly said it should happen, in order not to deal a further blow to the country’s standing.

But Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces and an ally of Saudi Arabia, pointed the finger at Hezbollah and its ally President Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement for moves to delay it.

“They are near certain that they will lose their parliamentary majority,” Geagea told Reuters in an interview at his residence in the mountains overlooking the coastal town of Jounieh.

Hezbollah Member of Parliament Ibrahim Moussawi responded to Geagea’s comments by saying they were “lies” and “slander,” in a statement published on the state-run National News Agency. Hezbollah was firmly in favor of holding elections “on their scheduled constitutional dates,” the statement said.