Hezbollah challenges Lebanese President

Beirut: A few months before his term in office expires, and emboldened by patient but sophisticated maneuverings to form a government — which finally earned a parliamentary vote of confidence — President Michel Sulaiman used frank language to criticise Hezbollah.

In a widely applauded address delivered at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) in February, the head-of-state described the “people-army-resistance” triptych formula so dear to the “Party of God” as “wooden,” which was perceived as a slap on the face.

A few days ago, Sulaiman invited all local protagonists to attend the national dialogue session on March 31 at the Baabda Palace, ostensibly to discuss the long-postponed and highly controversial defence strategy.

On Friday, the president lashed out at Hezbollah, insisting that it transcended whatever powers were granted to it by the Lebanese Government to resist the Israeli occupation when it decided, all alone, to engage in the Syrian civil war.

Hezbollah tenors were angered by the president’s USEK speech and now by his more daring public remarks, which was why a high-ranking official told Al Liwa newspaper that the party preferred not to participate for now and wished to wait for a successor with whom it could valorise “what’s golden.”

With the anticipated presidential elections kickoff scheduled for March 25, Hezbollah telegraphed its displeasure with Sulaiman, even if it considered him worthwhile for most of the past six years.