(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri proposed a plan to safeguard Lebanon from a governmental collapse on Friday in a televised speech to the citizens of Lebanon.
“I will propose a road map to protect Lebanon that should begin with the election of a new president given that such an issue is the priority over any other matter,” Hariri said, saying the presidential void threatened the “democratic foundations” of the country.
“To hold the presidential election hostage to regional changes with the hopes of refloating the Syrian regime risks the power-sharing formula and coexistence as stipulated by the Taef Accord.”
Former President Michel Sleiman ended his six-year term on May 25 and lawmakers have failed to elect a president since.
In the speech, Hariri also highlighted the need for what he called an “emergency plan” to address the refugee crisis that has burdened the country’s infrastructure and contributed to a deteriorating economy and security situation.
The former PM also accused Hezbollah of having a role in the continuous air raids on Lebanese border towns as part of the resistance group’s battle alongside Syrian troops, which Hariri described as a “crazy endeavor.”
“We witness daily aerial Syrian bombardment of the Lebanese territories under the pretext of supporting the confrontations of Hezbollah in the border areas.”
Hariri also rejected claims that the Sunni community in Lebanon was providing a safe haven for terrorist cells operating in the country, saying such allegations only reinforced Hezbollah’s justification for fighting in Syria.