Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah endured a fiery rage of backlash following his speech on Friday, in which he suggested ditching the constitution, and passed the blame of assassinations to Israel. Leaders from the ruling March 14 coalition lobbed sharp criticism at Nasrallah for his proposal that people be allowed to elect a president directly.Without making any mention to Nasrallah, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora criticized those who would pardon the assassins of former Premier Rafik Hariri. Saniora stressed at an Iftar dinner on Sunday that March 14 will uphold their "national commitment" no matter what the cost.
In a speech Friday marking Jerusalem Day, Nasrallah said Israel of being behind the serial killings in Lebanon to facilitate creation of an international tribunal that would be used to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime. Nasrallah also called for direct popular elections to choose the next president if political parties failed to reach consensus on a candidate.
Al Mustaqbal Movement leader and MP Saad Hariri said from Washington that such a proposal risks dragging Lebanon to the unknown. He said the Hizbullah-led opposition "should stop making such suggestions because the Lebanese constitution is clear. We don't fear a referendum, and we could, if one was fulfilled, get a president elected." Hariri reiterated that March 14 "will not abandon" the constitution or the Taif Accord "which ensured civil peace. This is not the time for proposals that take the country to the unknown." Hariri held a phone conversation with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is visiting Geneva, and discussed the outcome of his talks in Washington. The daily An Nahar on Monday said that "communication channels" were opened over the past few hours between Beirut, Washington and Geneva against the backdrop of Nasrallah's controversial remarks. It quoted parliamentary and political sources as saying that Nasrallah's speech was "about" to torpedo Berri's latest initiative since the ruling majority thought it targeted the speaker's proposal. An Nahar, according to the sources, said March 14 had raised questions as to whether Nasrallah's remarks represented the views of the various opposition factions.
One of the strongest attacks against Nasrallah came from Democratic Gathering leader and MP Walid Jumblat, who accused the Hizbullah chief of turning into a "spokesman for Syria and Iran. Nasrallah says, 'if you want an international probe expect more assassinations.' He also said 'if you want freedom, sovereignty and independence, we won't stand for it and we will impose a consensus candidate' by which he means a head of state who rejects all international resolutions." Presidential hopeful and March 14 MP Nassib Lahoud said that there is no way to change the rules of the game on the eve of presidential elections. "Changing the Lebanese political system to allow the election of a president directly from the people is complicated and requires other adjustments to the system as well," he said.
President Emile Lahoud backed up Nasrallah's proposal to reach a consensus presidential candidate. Lahoud, however, emphasized the need to agree on electing a president through "democratic competition" in accordance with constitutional norms, if rival groups fail to agree on a consensus head of state.Asked why March 14 lawmakers are the only MPS threatened with their lives, Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh rebuffed Nasrallah's allegation that Israel was behind the political assassinations in Lebanon. "I don't see a single opposition legislator in danger," Hamadeh told Future TV on Sunday. "Does this mean Israel is their ally and it doesn't threaten them but only kills us? This is a question I would like to put to Sayyed Nasrallah."
Hamadeh said that March 14 "knows Syria will continue with the assassinations," for which reason the majority has taken preventive measures and is looking forward to see the formation of the international tribunal very soon. On Nasrallah's demand for direct elections, Hamadeh asked: "Is there a country in the world that elects a president based on opinion polls?"
Presidential hopeful Butros Harb said Nasrallah's proposal was a breach of the Taif Accord. Harb said that Taif "maintained a consensus formula based on a multi-confessional" Lebanon, adding that resorting to direct elections would "topple this formula." Presidential candidate MP Robert Ghanem agreed, saying the time was not a suitable to demand direct popular elections.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah lawmaker Hussein Hajj Hassan defended Nasrallah's remarks, saying the Hizbullah chief suggested, only in the event consensus was not reached, that democratic options "that are available all over the world" be considered.