A third session of European investigations into the file of the “Central” ruler
A Lebanese official following the relationship between the “Free Patriotic Movement” and “Hezbollah” said that the “marriage” between the two parties has ended, and that only the official declaration of divorce remains between the two allies.
The arrival of President Michel Aoun to the presidency was the beginning of the end of this alliance. As soon as he arrived, Aoun confronted the Speaker of Parliament (an ally of “Hezbollah”), President Nabih Berri, who stood in the way of Aoun and his current in power.
Aoun believed that the party’s support should be unlimited at home, but the party chose to hold the stick from the middle, and not confront Berri, out of its concern for “the unity of the Shiite community.”
Aoun says to his visitors that Berri was the biggest obstacle to his presidential achievements, and that the party did not intervene to deter his ally. The current head of the “current”, MP Gebran Bassil, also criticizes the party’s performance, and his biggest complaint is that the party places its relationship with its allies at home, especially in the Shiite faction, above all considerations. This, in Basil’s opinion, “encouraged corruption and prevented the establishment of state institutions.”
Hezbollah’s behavior during the presidential vacuum dealt a heavy blow to the alliance with the “current”. As he was clear in supporting the choice of former minister Suleiman Franjieh for the presidency, but Bassil rejected this option, and called on the party to reach an understanding on a “third option.”
An official close to “Hezbollah” admits that the divorce took place and is awaiting an official announcement, but he asserts that this announcement will not be issued by the party, leaving Basil to carry out this task.
On the other hand, the Lebanese judiciary is preparing to keep pace with the third round of European investigations into the file of the Governor of the “Banque du Liban”, Riad Salameh, which begins on April 25, and includes officials in the Lebanese “Central” and owners of commercial banks, and precedes the date of the investigation session with Salameh. In Paris, on the 16th of May.
Lebanon: Aoun and Hezbollah’s “divorce” is final…and awaits publication
