USUP Secretary-General Michel Mallo: The next parliamentary elections will define the future of Lebanon

ZAHLE, Lebanon — In an endorsement of bipartisanship and solidarity, the Coordinator of the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP) in Zahle, Lebanon, organized a festival to support the party’s alliance with the Lebanese Forces party and the candidate for the Orthodox seat Elias Istafan. The event was attended by former Deputy Joseph Maalouf, the Secretary-General of the USUP Michel Mallo, and the former Coordinator of Lebanese Forces and Central Council Member Tony al-Qasouf. Commissioner of the National Liberal Party’s Fares Chamoun was also present, along with several other USUP officials.

The festival kicked off with an election video produced by the Coordinator’s Information Committee, after which Mallo gave a speech where he stressed that this election is different because it will set the tone for Lebanon for the foreseeable future. The election is a battle that is no less fierce than the war outside forces have waged on Lebanon’s land, he added.

Istafan expressed his support of the agreement between USUP and Lebanese Forces, extending his gratitude to the USUP and its leadership.

The USUP is one of modern Lebanon’s founding parties and has provided 1,132 martyrs in defense of Lebanon and its freedom, said Istafan.

He stressed that the Syriac people’s rights would be restored by the USUP and Lebanese Forces should they win adequate seats in parliament, pledging that both parties would be deputies on behalf of the Syriac people.

As for al-Qasouf, he emphasized the bipartisan unity embodied in the  alliance and called for intense support of the Sovereign Front bloc in Zahle on 15 May.