Tue 12 November 2019:
Judges should be ‘brave’ in their pursuit of public officials during graft investigations, Hassan Nasrallah says.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Monday called on Lebanon’s judiciary to be “brave” in its pursuit of corrupt officials and urged judges to begin with anyone affiliated to his group.
Nasrallah was speaking for the fourth time since unprecedented protests broke out across Lebanon on October 17.
Nasrallah also said he would not comment on the issue of the formation of a new government in order to allow for continued negotiations.
“The meetings are ongoing … We are not obliged to make any statement or take a position. Let us leave the door open so we can get to the best possible result for our country,” he said.
Demonstrators have demanded an independent government of experts be formed to navigate the country out of a worsening economic and financial crisis and secure basic needs such as electricity and water.
Corruption with in Hezbollah
Fighting corruption has also been a major demand of the hundreds of thousands of protesters who have taken to the streets across Lebanon over the past 26 days.
Nasrallah’s close ally, House Speaker Nabih Berri, has been one of the main targets of demonstrators alleging massive corruption by him, his wife Randa, and members of his Amal Movement party.
The warlord-turned-politician has been speaker of Parliament since 1992 and is a symbol of the old-guard.
Lebanese politicians have been split on the nature of Beirut’s relationship with Damascus since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, with Hariri and his allies in the Lebanese forces and Progressive Socialist Party opposing normalised relations, while Hezbollah, Amal and Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement support such a move.
Nasrallah’s speech came as protests showed no sign of letting up, with a general strike planned for Tuesday.
Education Minister Akram Chehayeb announced schools and universities would be closed, citing the strike and the safety of students.
Many student walkouts were planned for Tuesday after thousands skipped class last week to join the protests, and Chehayeb said his decision came “in respect for their right of democratic expression”.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
