Universal Syriac Union Party President Ibrahim Mrad calls for election of strong president for Lebanon

BEIRUT — With the approach of the presidential election in Lebanon, President of the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP) Ibrahim Mrad stated what qualities he believes any new president should possess. 

In his statement, Mrad said there is no solution to Lebanon’s intractable problems except the election of a president that is courageous, strong, and has a comprehensive political and economic vision for the country. The new president needs to, without fear and evasion, confront the crises facing the country and speak the truth before the people, he added. Faith in the state as an institution, not as a commercial enterprise, needs to be restored, Mrad continued.

The president must enjoy positive relations with Arab countries and international powers while asserting Lebanese sovereignty. Sovereignty must extend to the domestic monopoly by the state on the ownership of military-grade weaponry, Mrad added, saying that militias, such as Hezbollah, must be disarmed.

Murad stressed the need for the president to improve the current state of coexistence among the peoples of Lebanon and ensure, through a policy of positive neutrality and a federal system, that true coexistence becomes a reality.

In the event the next president fails in this regard, the Cypriot model may prove to be a peaceful and sound solution.

Murad concluded his statement by saying, “Do those who are entrusted with the interests of Lebanon and its people dare, or is our dream of a real homeland a difficult dream to achieve?”

The first session of the House of Representatives to elect a new president on Thursday failed due to the lack of a quorum during the session and some politicians indicated that this session was a test of intentions.