(23 Jan 2020) A Lebanese lawmaker and former foreign minister who has been a frequent target of protesters in the economically troubled country says he understands his people want change, but he's not going anywhere until voters drive him out.
Gebran Bassil, who was officially replaced as foreign minister this week with the appointment of a new technocratic government backed by the Shia militant group and political organisation Hezbollah, says the new team should get right to work pushing for reform and demanded results in the next 100 days.
Bassil's mere appearance at the World Economic Forum on Thursday has stoked fury among his critics in Lebanon, who accuse him of corruption and blast him as the embodiment of a sclerotic democratic system.
The country's woes have been compounded by salaries and public services that aren't paid, jockeying for influence by foreign powers, and sectarian divisions.
Amid concerns about the ties to Hezbollah, which the United States considers a terrorist group, he insisted it "has a lesser representation than before."
"If we prove internally that we can have the ability to reform, then we can ask the international community to help," Bassil said.
Bassil also took aim at those who consider him corrupt, defending himself as "the first one in Lebanon to reveal my accounts," and listing steps like pushing for laws that would limit bank secrecy and immunity of public servants.
"So put your pressure on the deputies that are refusing to adopt these laws," he said, when asked to respond to his critics.
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