Lebanese FM calls for new election law, free president during FPM protests

Lebanese Foreign and Expatriates Minister Jebran Bassil called for electing a "free president, who is a decision maker."

Bassil, who is also the president of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), said, during a mass rally organized by his party in downtown Beirut, that Lebanon needs a 'clean and transparent' president who does not cover up for corruption.

He called for a parliament that represents all Lebanese and regions and a Cabinet that does not violate the Constitution, laws and prerogatives.

"The Lebanese dream is to have a strong Army, security forces and resistance," he confirmed.

"We want a state that enjoys 24/24 power supply. We want a state that has water resources," he added.

He said that some sides wanted to deprive us of the dream, "our dream is to have a state, not a farm. We are the sons of this land".

He concluded "they thought that they could force us out of the squares, but we returned to this square as it is to all the Lebanese".

For his part, Change and Reform bloc Chief, MP Michel Aoun, thanked via a giant screen the demonstrators for their participation, stressing "you will preserve the nation through your solidarity and morality".

"Today's gathering will be the beginning of our nation's reform," he concluded.

Source: MENA