President of the National Dialogue Party, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, visited the Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, at Dar Al-Fatwa to congratulate him on the occasion of the Islamic New Year. He was accompanied by Engineer Ibrahim Zeidan, Executive Deputy Head 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 provided an opportunity to discuss the country’s situation, particularly the deteriorating social and economic conditions. He praised the Grand Mufti’s national positions, especially his emphasis that an independent, patriotic government would serve as a safeguard for the country, free from foreign interference.
Makhzoumi renewed his call for an investigation into the Beirut Port disaster, urging the use of international expertise and technology to identify those responsible for what he described as the crime of the century. He also considered the verdict issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri to be a first step toward achieving justice, which must be allowed to take its course.
Makhzoumi stated that Lebanon urgently needs a government composed of genuinely independent figures from outside the corrupt political establishment, vested with exceptional powers to address the economic and financial crises, rebuild Beirut, and oversee parliamentary elections. He reiterated the need to shorten the parliamentary term from four years to three, noting that he had submitted a draft law to Parliament to this effect.
He also stressed the importance of conducting a forensic audit of the accounts of the central bank, commercial banks, ministries, and public institutions dating back to 1993, and reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund as soon as possible.
On another note, Makhzoumi called for balancing economic considerations with people’s basic living needs and adhering to the necessary measures to curb the dangerous spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed that everyone must comply with the precautions needed to protect themselves and those around them.
Makhzoumi paid tribute to the Lebanese people, associations, organizations, institutions, and young men and women who rushed to assist the wounded and those affected by the Beirut Port explosion. They were present on the ground assessing the damage and providing support, while the government was conspicuously absent and failed to fulfill its responsibilities toward its citizens. He questioned why the aid had still not been distributed.
He congratulated the associations and organizations that had stood alongside the people from the first day after the explosion and thanked them for their efforts, including the Makhzoumi Foundation, Irada Association, Al-Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association, the Islamic Center, and others. He emphasized the importance of working transparently and realistically, in line with the resources available to these associations and institutions.