FPM lashes out at Hezbollah's Moussawi after new anti-Bassil remarks

The Free Patriotic Movement on Sunday hit back at Hezbollah official Nawaf al-Moussawi after the latter criticized FPM chief Gebran Bassil over recent statements.

"We thought that a former MP and official like Nawaf al-Moussawi would be expected, first, to adhere to the limits of politeness and decency in expression, and second, to listen well and comprehend correctly before commenting erroneously," the FPM said.

"The literal text of the FPM leader's full statement is clear: it refers to all Lebanese -- including the FPM, its members, and its supporters -- who are suffering from the consequences of a war into which all Lebanese were pushed outside of any national Lebanese interest, because these consequences are not limited only to Hezbollah's environment," the FPM explained.

It added that "it seems that al-Moussawi, as is his habit, enjoys rhetoric built on illusions, stoking sectarian tensions, and provoking all Lebanese by launching empty slogans and phrases."

"These attacks on the FPM and its leader are additional proof of the validity of our national stance, which is built on the solid pillar of Lebanon’s self-interest outside of any alignment. This seems to drive some angry individuals out of their minds, making them lash out blindly—exactly as al-Moussawi did, whose poor performance, behavior, and statements have always harmed his party first and all Lebanese second, leading to his status as a former MP," the FPM added.

Moussawi had commented on Bassil's recent remarks regarding Hezbollah by saying: "I am certain that no one in Lebanon likes this person; only Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah used to tolerate him, and his words are disgraceful."

Bassil has infuriated Hezbollah and its supporters by saying that they are still present in the wake of the latest two wars with Israel but have become “destitute, displaced, emigrant and bankrupt.”

“Unfortunately, a large portion of our people have fallen into surrender and despair … Is this the outcome? Is this the victory that we want?” Bassil added.

“I’m blaming Hezbollah because it implicated us in a war that we should not have engaged in, because it is not managing to get out of it and because it is not helping us to get out of it,” the FPM chief and former Hezbollah ally added.