Nayla Tueni

By : Nayla Tueni

Lebanese parties that support Hezbollah are aware that they need it to provide them with security and money to survive, after living under Syrian tutelage. They also need the votes of Hezbollah supporters whenever there are elections, given that their numbers are great, and the Shiite party can control and mobilize them.

However, Hezbollah – despite its money, power and supporters – is no different from other parties when it comes to the domestic political formula, as it is also captive to the current system that is based on sharing with other sects, religions, parties and leaders.

Its ministers have not achieved anything significant, and its MPs’ stances have not correlated with the principles they have always bragged about. On the contrary, news of corruption linked to those close to Hezbollah has often surfaced.

Presidential vacuum

The situation has not been better regarding the presidential affair. Hezbollah has obstructed the process of electing a president – and thus obstructed Lebanon’s democratic life and violated the constitution – by boycotting parliament sessions, along with its allies, and by setting conditions to attend. This is nothing to be proud of.

Hezbollah has so far failed to get its candidate, Christian leader Michel Aoun, to the presidency. Statements that electing a president is in Hezbollah’s hands are an exaggeration, as last week it acknowledged that just like other parties, it awaits signals from foreign parties, and international and regional agreements such as those related to U.S.-Iranian dialogue.

Hezbollah’s frequent statements that the process of electing a president is a purely internal affair are merely attempts to throw dust in the eyes. All parties must realize that we have all become captives of regional affairs, and are all awaiting signals from outside powers.

However, as we wait, is it possible to maintain the minimum of security, and social and economic stability? Most importantly, for our own sake, can we avoid harming our ties with brotherly Arab countries that have always stood by Lebanon?

Nayla Tueni is one of the few elected female politicians in Lebanon and of the two youngest. She became a member of parliament in 2009 and following the assassination of her father, Gebran, she is currently a member of the board and Deputy General Manager of Lebanon’s leading daily, Annahar. Prior to her political career, Nayla had trained, written in and managed various sections of Annahar, where she currently has a regular column. She can be followed on Twitter @NaylaTueni

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in the Column section are their own and do not reflect RiyadhVision’s point-of-view.

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