L .F. blasts Bassil, brands him as ‘thief of the republic’

The Lebanese Forces on Monday hit back at Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil over the issue of electoral spending, blasting him as the “thief of the republic.”

“The thief of the republic and the looter of the people who is to blame for at least $40 billion in electricity deficit over the period of 10 years… lacks a lot of ethics, and this is agreed on by the majority of the Lebanese,” the LF said in a statement.

It also reminded Bassil that he is on “an international sanctions list,” in reference to the U.S. sanctions slapped on him over corruption-related allegations.

Addressing Bassil’s accusations that the LF has exceeded the allowed limit of electoral spending in its electoral campaign, the LF said: The supervisory commission can rule on who exceeded the allowed ceilings and who didn’t after receiving all the bills in the wake of the elections.”

“Anyhow, the most important electoral supervisory commission is the people, who will say their word on May 6, 8 and 15, so be very prepared,” the LF added.

Bassil has on Sunday filed a complaint against the LF and the Kataeb Party, accusing them of exceeding the allowed limit of electoral spending in a “blatant and extreme manner.”

Bassil cited the quantity of billboards and unipoles rented by the two parties for their campaigns

24/7 electricity

@DanyAwad المشروع المقدم إلى الحكومة يلحظ الكهرباء 24/24 خلال العام 2014

— Gebran Bassil (@Gebran_Bassil) August 5, 2010

When Bassil took over the ministry of energy he promised 24 hour 7 days a week electricity .

After $4O billion in subsidies , Lebanon barely gets 2 hours of electricity per day from the government owned EDL

‘ face of corruption’

While the October 2019 demonstrators have called for the fall of the entire government, Bassil emerged as the target of a popular profane chant and was seen by many as the embodiment of the political establishment.

“For the revolution, public enemy number one is Bassil, as he is the face of corruption and his antagonistic and condescending attitude has alienated and ostracized the majority of the Lebanese,” explained Makram Rabah, a lecturer at AUB.