Caretaker Foreign Minister: FPM’s sacrifices serve Lebanon’s higher interests

NNA - The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM)-Byblos Branch held its annual dinner on Saturday night attended by caretaker Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil, who asserted that the FPM is willing to sacrifice for the greater interest of Lebanon alone. The event was attended by a host of political, religious and public figures. Hailing the city and its people for their rich history, Bassil noted that the FPM has presented a model in Lebanese democracy by holding nationwide preliminary polls for the Movement’s supporters to choose whom they want to represent them in Parliament. Two names came up for Byblos: Simone Abi Ramya, and Naji Hayek. "From now on the FPM will only choose candidates for Parliamentary elections from within its ranks...this is a year of elections, and we must be transparent with each other. The priority is for the FPM, then its supporters, followed by its friends, and finally its allies." The Minister reassured supporters that a delay in the formation of the Cabinet was normal, since the country was not living through usual circumstances. He insisted that the upcoming Cabinet would not be the new term's first Cabinet, but rather a government that facilitated legislative elections. "The Charter cannot be complete without including all confessions," said Bassil, "let no one think that a new electoral law would eliminate any sect...the ideology of elimination and marginalization ended and we must press forward into a new phase where we all complete each other as Lebanese." Bassil explained that the FPM made concessions for the greater good of the country and nothing else. "This Cabinet's mission is to hold legislative elections on time...and ministries do not belong to any one person or political movement, they belong to all Lebanese."