Edde congratulates Hizbullah on "clear victory"

Local Editor, 28-11-2009

National Bloc leader Carlos Edde issued a statement on Saturday congratulating Hizbullah for its clear victory in the ministerial statement - which he said will legitimize the party's political and military role in Lebanon.

Edde also congratulated the party for achieving a revised version of the 2008 statement which he said March 14 alliance leaders had only forcibly accepted in the hopes of getting a parliamentary majority that would enable them to establish their own sovereignty regardless.

He said that March 14 leaders should have realized - in light of the "changes in political alliances" - a possible reference to Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt's split from March 14 in August, that the alliance no longer holds a "real majority" in parliament.

"March 14 should have given up its right to form a government and go back to being a sovereign opposition, which would have at least preserved the principles which the alliance was founded on and which the group has struggled over and sacrificed for, instead of having a new cabinet being imposed on it," he added.

Edde also said everyone is entitled to question the March 14 alliance's participation in the parliamentary elections after now backing down on its promises - such as claiming it would not allow Hizbullah's weapons to be legitimized.
Edde also admitted he is "distressed" with the current situation of the alliance.