Head of Lebanese Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblatt: Aoun aims to hand over power to son-in-law Gibran Bassil, but that is impossible

BEIRUT — Voices opposing Lebanese President Michel Aoun continue to grow following his recent statements about his intention to stay in office if the Parliament wants.

After the criticism of opposition parties, including the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP) about Aoun’s statements, Head of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblatt severely criticized Aoun, and declared that Parliament would not extend Aoun’s tenure.

“Aoun will not be able to oppose the MPs’ willingness, and he will have to leave,” Jumblatt added.

Jumblatt pointed out that Aoun aims to hand over power in an unconstitutional manner to his son-in-law, Head of the Free Patriotic Movement Gibran Bassil, despite all the difficulties that Lebanon is going through. However, that is impossible, said Jumblatt, because the Lebanese people are tired of this way of governing and they will prevent that during the elections.

“People are fed up with Aoun’s failed policies,” USUP official Nura Jerjes told SyriacPress earlier this month. “[His government has] neither presented any reforms to the Lebanese people, nor implemented any of [its] pledges.”

“This is evident from the failure of successive governments during Aoun’s time in power.”

Bassil is currently the subject of U.S. sanctions. 

Bassil has called the U.S. sanctions against him unjust, politically motivated, and the result of his refusal to break ties with Hezbollah. The Free Patriotic Movement is in a coalition with Hezbollah.

The U.S. Treasury Department has accused Hezbollah of being “responsible, directly or indirectly involved in corruption, including embezzlement of state assets and confiscation of private assets for personal gain,” and has imposed sanctions on several high-profile Hezbollah members.

However, it has said that it is not targeting a particular group, party, or sect, but rather targets corruption and that Lebanese leaders must respond to the popular demands of the Lebanese people and immediately implement the necessary reforms to eradicate the rampant corruption.

In recent statements, Bassil denied that Iran occupies or holds control over Lebanon.

In response to Bassil’s statement, USUP official Nura Jerjes commented to SyriacPress that Bassil’s statement flies in the face of the clearly visible Iranian hold over the country represented by Hezbollah’s control over governance, the judiciary, the economy, and the internal and external policies of the Lebanese state.