LEBANON: Universal Syriac Union Party President Ibrahim Mrad denounces Gebran Bassil for providing Christian cover for Hezbollah

BEIRUT — Ahead of the upcoming May 15 parliamentary elections, Free Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil Gebran has announced his party’s list of candidates and confirmed his alliance with Iran’s Hezbollah. President of the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP) in Lebanon, Ibrahim Mrad, has stated that Bassil’s recent statements and alliance are an attack on all other political parties, to stir up supporters’ feelings against political opponents. Mrad calls Gebran Bassil’s recent statements and alliances void.

The Syriac Maronite Gebran Basil Gebran was Minister of Energy and Water between 2011-2014 (during which he promised the Lebanese electricity 24 hours per day) and Foreign Affairs Minister between 2015-2020. He has led the Free Patriotic Movement since 2015 – in an alliance with Hezbollah – and he is the son-in-law of President Michel Aoun.

“The electricity network is almost completely destroyed and on the verge of death,” Mrad stated. “Bassil’s statements are an evasion from the catastrophic political failure of the presidency of Michael Aoun, which has been going on for more than five years now.”

“It is an attempt to deceive all and hide the squandering of public funds which should have been invested in the electricity network. The Lebanese people’s ongoing suffering from the broken electricity supply is the strongest evidence of this.”

USUP president Ibrahim Mrad accuses Gebran Bassil of wanting to get Hezbollah support and votes, thereby giving direct legitimacy to Hezbollah and its activities which have proved disastrous for Lebanon.

“We and all honest and patriotic Lebanese people find him a traitor because he gives Hezbollah a Christian cover,” said Mrad. “We have warned over and over against this cover. We support the Lebanese Forces Party candidates and will prevent the Christian bloc of Gebran Bassil and the Free Patriotic Movement from again coming to power.”