Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati swiftly hit back Tuesday at remarks by Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil.
A statement issued by Mikati’s press office said the premier “regrets the tense remarks” of Bassil “at a critical political moment that requires cooperation among everyone, not the launching of arbitrary accusations and stances and the use of confrontational and provocative expressions.”
“Mr. Premier considers that the most appropriate thing in this dire situation is to show solidarity to fend off the threats that the country is facing, and cooperation among parliament’s members, including Mr. Bassil, in order to elect a new president for the country and put things again on the natural democratic track,” the statement added.
Bassil had earlier said that “through confrontation, he (Mikati) wants a government that usurps the president’s powers.”
“He wants to take the country to a sedition, exactly like those who want a confrontation president. This is a constitutional massacre that we will not allow and we will confront it with all our strength,” Bassil added.