Maronite Patriarch blasts effort to paralyze Lebanese government
November 02, 2012
The Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church has made a strong statement on Lebanon’s political problems, denouncing a movement to boycott the country’s parliament and force the resignation of the current coalition government.
Patriarch Beshara Rai—who will be elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict XVI at the November 24 consistory—condemned political action that “aims at obstructing state institutions” in the quest for power. His words were clearly directed at the 14 March alliance, a group with ties to former Prime Minister Saad Hariri. The alliance has announced plans to boycott parliamentary sessions in a bid to oust the government.
The Maronite leader endorsed the efforts of President Michel Suleiman to promote talks between political rivals, hoping for a “transition to a better political and economic period.”
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