Fouad Makhzoumi, president of the National Dialogue Party and Member of Parliament, visited His Eminence Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, Grand Mufti of the Republic, at Dar al-Fatwa. He was accompanied by Engineer Ibrahim Zeidan, Executive Vice President of the Party’s Administrative Board; Mr. Samer Al-Safah, Director General of the Makhzoumi Foundation; and Marwan Sabban, Social Media Manager. They discussed matters concerning Dar al-Fatwa and the general situation in the country.
Following the meeting, Makhzoumi said the visit aimed to assess the difficult circumstances facing the country. He noted that the discussions addressed the recent positions expressed by Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi, emphasizing that Lebanon should remain neutral and stay away from regional power-bloc politics, while rejecting isolation from its Arab brothers and friendly nations.
Makhzoumi stressed the importance of these positions, calling for their implementation within a framework that addresses the country’s financial, economic, and living conditions and works toward finding rapid and effective solutions. He emphasized that these issues must take priority above all else. He added that he had asked the Grand Mufti, as he has consistently done, to continue standing alongside the Lebanese people, who are suffering from difficult conditions on every level.
Makhzoumi continued: “The political class that has governed the country for decades previously expressed its willingness to conduct a forensic audit, without understanding the implications and consequences of that decision. It subsequently rejected carrying it out. The Lebanese people have the right to know what is happening in this regard, particularly concerning the actual losses and the real figures that clearly reveal the financial crisis facing the country.”
He expressed regret over the deterioration of the economic situation, which he said was heading toward further decline, particularly in light of the new circulars and regulations being introduced by banks concerning fresh money. He questioned the consequences of these circulars and the objectives behind them.
The Government
Regarding the government, Makhzoumi said everyone wished it success because the fate of the Lebanese people depended on its performance and the decisions it made.
He noted that the Lebanese people had grown weary of hearing claims about conspiracies obstructing the government’s work. The government had secured a vote of confidence from 67 members of Parliament, he said, calling on Prime Minister Hassan Diab to identify by name those obstructing and conspiring against his government.
Negotiations with the International Monetary Fund
In response to a question about the progress of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Makhzoumi noted that the Fund’s expert delegation had held 17 negotiating meetings with Lebanese authorities but had yet to see genuine seriousness in the discussions, particularly given the absence of a unified figure for the country’s losses.
He explained that the IMF wanted to help Lebanon but required clear and accurate figures, which it had not yet received. He stressed that the importance of the Fund’s assistance lay not in its monetary value but in what it represented: the restoration of confidence in Lebanon, especially since the international community had lost confidence in both the government and Parliament.
Makhzoumi also pointed to the influence of the banking lobby over key decision-making processes. He predicted that Parliament could end up assuming responsibility for making decisions that should fall to the government. He expressed surprise that those obstructing the government’s work were the same people who had voted to grant it confidence, reminding the public that he himself had not voted in favor of the government.
Electricity Supply and Beirut’s Municipal Affairs
Regarding electricity outages, Makhzoumi questioned what had happened to the fuel oil whose cost was being paid by citizens. He asserted that it was being smuggled through more than 136 unofficial border crossings and criticized the government’s mismanagement of the issue.
He congratulated Beirut’s newly appointed Governor, Marwan Abboud, on reviving the issue of electricity provision in the capital. Makhzoumi affirmed his support for matters affecting Beirut, particularly waste management and the awarding of contracts by mutual agreement within the municipal council. He cited the ongoing rehabilitation of the Selim Salam Tunnel as a clear example of the concerns surrounding such contracts.
He expressed confidence that the governor would take action to confront theft and embezzlement.