Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai called on Lebanon’s political parties to support the government in implementing reforms and “free the state's decision from the influence and interference of de facto forces.”
During Sunday’s mass sermon in Bkirki, Rai said rival parties should cooperate to help the government achieve the required reforms.
“We all have the duty to distinguish between what is positive, and cooperate to promote it; and what is negative, to work together to correct it,” the patriarch stressed.
“This is what we expected from last Wednesday’s consultative meeting at the Presidential Palace, to study the draft economic rescue plan, before its submission to Parliament in its full form,” he added, referring to last week’s meeting that gathered the heads of political blocs to discuss the cabinet’s reform plan.
As he welcomed the move taken by the government, Rai emphasized that the government had local and external obligations.
“Internally, it has a duty to look into citizens’ urgent affairs and take swift measures to solve their financial, health, environmental, and living problems, in addition to unemployment, hunger, and poverty,” he said.
He continued: “Externally, the government should accelerate the completion of the reform plan and submit it to Parliament for approval, in order to be able to conduct constructive negotiations … especially with the International Monetary Fund.”
The Maronite patriarch finally urged the political parties to “encourage and support the government in achieving the required reforms” both locally and externally, and “free the state’s decision from the influence and interference of de facto forces and strengthen Lebanon’s relations with its surroundings and with the international community.”
