The candidate named by the family of the late Metn MP Albert Mokheiber to fill his vacant parliamentary seat will under no circumstances withdraw his candidacy, despite suggestions of a possible compromise candidate to prevent a division within the opposition.
Speaking at a news conference Wednesday at Beit Mery’s Bustan Hotel to announce his platform, Ghassan Mokheiber said he would not withdraw his candidacy in favor of a conciliatory candidate and emphasized his position as a representative of the opposition.
Although reporters questioned the candidate on balancing his position as an opposition member with the backing of Interior Minister Elias Murr, who is perceived to be a supporter of the Mokheiber family’s candidate following his recent refusal to personally run for a seat that was not “his right,” Mokheiber denied that such backing would compromise his values.
“Electoral alliances” had nothing to do with political positions, he insisted, repeatedly refusing to consider the Metn electoral battle a contest between the opposition and government’s supporters.
Both he and his opponent Gabriel Murr, owner of MTV, were supported by different sides of the opposition, he said.
But Mokheiber criticized Murr for behaving like an exclusive representative of the opposition and for claiming he had the support of some groups, including the disbanded Lebanese Forces and exiled General Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement.
“I have contacted them, and they told me that they haven’t reached any decision on who they will be supporting,” Mokheiber said.
He also rejected former President Amin Gemayel’s recent questions on Mokheiber’s legitimacy as a representative of the opposition when he could win due to the “votes of naturalized (citizens) and the Armenian bloc,” which are known to be controlled by pro-government former Interior Minister Michel Murr.
“I am at the heart of the opposition,” he said.
“President Gemayel knows very well that alliances have nothing to do with political position, or is an alliance an exclusive right for some groups only?” he added, referring to secret agreements between Michel Murr and Gemayel prior to the 2000 parliamentary elections.
As for the possibility of Mirna Murr, daughter of the former interior minister and sister of the current interior minister, running in the elections, Mokheiber said this was the “right of the Murr family.”
Mokheiber conceded that two opposition members running against a pro-government candidate would spread opposition votes thin, thus increasing the possibility of a loss for the opposition, but he denied that this would force him to pull out.
Signs of division among the opposition were evident at Wednesday’s news conference, with Qornet Shehwan member Gebran Tueni in attendance, although other members of the group, including Gemayel and Metn MP Nassib Lahoud, have announced their support for Gabriel Murr. Also attending was the head of the National Bloc, Carlos Edde.
Addressing Gabriel Murr’s recent accusations of silence on Mokheiber’s part while MTV was protesting the seven arrests in August of young opposition members, Mokheiber said he, with fellow lawyers, was working on a practical way to defend those who were arrested.
Reading a statement outlining his political platform, Mokheiber promised to maintain the honest opposition of his late uncle and pledged to proceed with defending human rights and public liberties.
In regard to the liberation of the Shebaa Farms, Mokheiber said he would continue working for the liberation of the remaining occupied Lebanese territory through means “least costly to Lebanon.”
“I also promise to continue refusing (the permanent) settlement of Palestinians on the basis of the Lebanese Constitution and the Palestinians’ right of return,” he said.
As for bilateral relations with Syria, Mokheiber maintained that “Lebanon could not be ruled by Syria, nor could it be ruled against Syria.”

Building owners nominate one of their own

Building owners decided Wednesday to nominate George Rabahieh, the president of the Building Owners Union, for the Orthodox seat in Metn.
According to a union statement, Rabahieh will not, if elected, accept any salary or compensation and has pledged to work for the end of those for other MPs.
“An MP is not an employee in the civil service and nobody forced him to run in the elections and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to win the elections,” the statement said.

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