Hariri Calls on Formation of Cabinet 'Capable' of Supervising Upcoming Elections

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed on Thursday that hijacking the state's will harms the Lebanese as he is holding onto toppling PM Najib Miqati's government and the formation of a cabinet that is capable of carrying out “fair elections.”

“We have no choice as Lebanese but to meet under the auspices of the state and its institutions... No team has the right to control another by its military force or through its regional links,” Hariri said in an interview with pan-Arab newspaper al-Hayat.

He said that he is not a “permanent” candidate to the premiership, pointing out that it's not about who governs the country rather than about implementing the March 14 opposition project, “which is based on respecting the Taef accord and social and economy development.”

“I am holding onto the toppling of this cabinet over the damage it caused to this country's political system, economy and stability,” Hariri said.

The former PM said that the March 14 coalition is seeking the formation of a government capable of supervising the upcoming 2013 parliamentary elections.

The alliance announced its boycott of government activity in light of the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan until the current cabinet resigns.

He was killed in a car bomb explosion in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh district on October 19.

The opposition accused the Syrian regime of being behind the crime, while blaming the government, which is comprised of mainly pro-Syria allies, of covering up for the criminals.

“I would rather lose in the elections than fall into the trap of sectarian bids,” Hariri told al-Hayat.

He said that the opposition “has no choice” but to be united during the elections.

Asked if Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat will be part of the March 14 alliance during the 2013 ballots, Hariri said that “he doesn't want to forestall the matter.”

He noted that Hizbullah “chose to boycott him as we were partners, but the party later decided to end it.”

Discussions among Lebanese foes over the new electoral law remains at a standstill as they are holding onto their proposals refusing to budge an inch.

The government approved in August a parliamentary electoral law based on proportional representation and 13 electoral districts, however, the opposition's proposal made by MPs Adwan, Sami Gemayel and Butros Harb supports the formation of 50 small-sized districts in a winner-takes-all system, while a plan suggested by the Change and Reform bloc allows every sect to elect its own MPs under a proportional representation system with Lebanon as a single district.

“Hizbullah's approach harmed coexistence (among the Lebanese)... The party's adopted policy can't build the country,” Hariri stressed.

“We will not yield... We are doomed to live together under the state, constitution and the institutions... We must rise together,” he stated.

He slammed Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's accusations that some of the Christians in the March 14 alliance are attempting to create Sunni-Shiite strife.

“This is a useless accusation,” Hariri said.

The former PM hailed the stances of President Michel Suleiman, saying: “he succeeded in restoring respect to the presidency post.”

He said that the international community and the Arab world are seeking to preserve stability in Lebanon.

On his stances from the uprising against the regime of President Bashar Assad that began in March 2011, Hariri said that he would “take the same stances if he was the premier as it is in the best interest of Lebanon and Syria at the same time.”

He criticized Hizbullah's position over the developments in Syria.

“Hizbullah must be aware of the standing with the oppressor,” Hariri noted.