Jibran Bassil Launches Violent Attack on Government: A Government of Factions, Alliances, Surrender, and Taxes

During a parliamentary session questioning the government, MP Jibran Bassil launched a sharp attack, asking: "Your slogan is reform—can you please guide us toward your reform?" He said: "You promised neutrality, yet became a government of alliances; you promised sovereignty, yet turned into a government of submission to external forces; you opened files of sectarian strife through weapons and general amnesty, and you have no plan for reform." He described the government as "a government of strife, alliances, surrender, darkness, taxes, and promises with no results."

On the issue of arms, Bassil affirmed his support for completely restricting arms "after Hezbollah's failure to defend Lebanon," but emphasized that "no Lebanese component should be intimidated or undermined." He called for changing course and establishing a national security strategy. Adding directly to the government: "You took power based on understandings you reached, yet we have not seen even a draft of a national security strategy to implement arms restriction. You have not formed a committee or held any meetings. Meanwhile, you adopted a paper handed to you from abroad and made decisions that remain unimplemented."

Bassil also announced his support for negotiations with Israel, stating: "We are in favor of negotiations because Hezbollah’s weapons can no longer protect Lebanon, and we support any agreement that serves Lebanon’s interests in sovereignty and rights." He warned against involvement in the Iranian-Gulf conflict, calling Iran’s use of Lebanon "a commodity."

Regarding relations with Syria, he called for building good ties with Damascus that serve Lebanon’s interests, stressing that the current Syrian regime must not have any sectarian extension in Lebanon. He said: "No one can place the army in confrontation with the Sunni community, as they are the army’s reservoir; nor can the army be placed in confrontation with the Shia, as this would be a political problem."

On economic and financial matters, Bassil accused the government of undermining the resilience of the Lebanese people through taxes and constantly turning to their pockets whenever it fails to address problems. He labeled it a "government of taxes" and questioned: "Where is the implementation of the law on stolen assets?"

He criticized the move to conduct a forensic audit on the ship scandal instead of the Central Bank of Lebanon, arguing that the government seeks an audit "out of political spite" and uses the file to justify its failure in electricity, especially after the judiciary has already spoken on the matter.

As for the "Free Patriotic Movement," Bassil stated that the rhetoric against it has been built over years, urging anyone with evidence against the movement to bring it to court.