Shias, Hezbollah cannot ...
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What deals do you think have been reached between Aoun, Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, and how will this election affect Hezbollah’s political future?
Aoun is widely regarded in Lebanon as an exemplary military figure with a spotless record. He even fought alongside Hezbollah against ISIS and the al-Nusra Front in northeastern Lebanon, leading a military division in operations against these terrorist groups. In southern Lebanon, he previously commanded a brigade responsible for border security and never backed down against the Israeli regime, despite the Lebanese army’s capabilities being incomparable to Israel’s.
He is a patriot who aims for national unity. While the specifics of the discussions between Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, and Joseph Aoun in their recent meeting remain undisclosed, speculations suggest that they centered around reconstruction, bolstering Lebanon’s security, fostering government cooperation with resistance groups, and potentially cabinet appointments, including the selection of a prime minister. These discussions seem to have culminated in agreements, and subsequently, the representatives of the Amal Movement and Hezbollah in parliament cast their votes for Aoun, allowing him to securing a majority. Mr. Aoun is well aware that without the support of Hezbollah and Amal’s MPs, the Christian bloc led by Samir Geagea would have thwarted his bid for the presidency.
What are your thoughts on how the Lebanese government, under Aoun’s leadership, will engage with Shia factions and their supporters in Lebanon?
It’s important to note that Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, along with their allied lawmakers, wield a majority in parliament and Muslims make up around 65% of Lebanon’s population, of which around 45% are Shia. Aoun cannot afford to overlook this substantial segment of the population. That would be impossible. Ultimately, we hope that with the election of a president and the formation of a cabinet, the challenges faced by the Lebanese people will diminish, as they have endured severe hardships. We aspire for peace, stability, and security to be restored in the country. However, given Lebanon’s proximity to Israel, it will always face various issues, including insecurity. Still, we hope that the election of a president will alleviate some of these burdens.