Hezbollah won’t share the credit for Aoun’s election as Lebanon president

Hezbollah’s number 2, Sheikh Naim Qassem on Sunday gave his party complete credit for the election of Michel Aoun as Lebanon’s president.

“The entire world has acknowledged Hezbollah’s role” in the election of Michel Aoun as Lebanon’s president.”
Qassem said, ridiculing what he called “the illusions of victory.”

“When the entire world acknowledges Hezbollah’s role in electing a president, claims of heroism and taking credit by some parties become of no value,” Qassem added.

“Those trying to flex their muscles… by claiming that they have made an achievement have actually jumped on Hezbollah’s bandwagon,” Qassem stressed in reference to Lebanese Forces and Future Movement

Aoun was elected president last month after a key endorsement from Future Movement leader Saad Hariri, who was later declared as prime minister-designate.

Hezbollah reportedly did not want any president including Aoun , even though they have been allied for over 10 years. Hezbollah refused for 44 times  to allow its MPS and those of its allies to go to the parliament  to  vote  for Aoun but reportedly was embarrassed after Hariri made the endorsement.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea who was the first to declare his candidacy was the one who boosted Aoun’s presidential chances after he decided to back him earlier this year.

The 81-year-old former general has long eyed the presidency, and his candidacy was officially backed by the Iranian backed Hezbollah movement,but the party never made any move to have him elected .

The key to clinching the post according to observers was the shock support of two of his greatest rivals: Geagea and Hariri.