Shortly after late Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah was martyred on September 27 during the Last brutal Israeli aggression on Lebanon, some local parties in Lebanon – who are known for their foreign affiliations – rushed to talk about the so-called “Lebanon post-Hezbollah”.
Back then, late Hezbollah Media Relations Officer Hajj Mohammad Afif, who was later martyred in an Israeli strike on Beirut last November, said his well-known remarks addressing such malicious ambitions: “Too early!”.
Whoever watched the 13th parliamentary session aimed at electing a new Lebanese president following a two-year vacuum on Thursday, knows very well what martyr Hajj Afif meant with such words.
As things got clearer, with Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun emerging as the front runner for the presidency, Hezbollah and its strong ally Amal Movement were keen to deliver a clear message.
Lawmakers of the nationalist duo (nearly 30 MPs) voted blank ballots in the first round of Thursday’s session, forcing a second round of the vote.
Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri, the Leader of Amal Movement, adjourned the session for more discussions, and set a timing for the second round.
A break of two hours between the two rounds witnessed a meeting between General Aoun, Head of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary bloc Hajj Mohammad Raad and Amal MP Ali Hasan Khalil.
Local reports indicated that during the meeting General Aoun offered some guarantees to the nationalist duo regarding implications of the ceasefire agreement with the Israeli enemy in areas south of the Litani River, plans for reconstruction and government restructuring.
The Parliament then convened for the second round, that led to the election of General Aoun who obtained 99 votes after Hezbollah and Amal lawmakers voted in his favor.
Despite claims of alleged “weakened Hezbollah sway” in the national decisions, the scene on Thursday has indicated that the Lebanese resistance party, along with Amal Movement, remain the major players and decision makers.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
