There is great fear and danger to Lebanon if we fail to elect a president
The Chairman of the Executive Board of the “Homeland of Humanity Project,” Representative Niamat Ephrem, said on the program “Oh White, Oh Black” with the journalist Walid Abboud on the “Hala London” screen, in a comprehensive approach to the presidential file and its challenges and what is expected from the desired president: “For two years and more They consider me a natural candidate for the presidency of the republic, and I have officially announced my intention to run at this particular time for three reasons: the first is that we are in the final weeks. We are in another place, specifically after the martyrdom of Sayyed Nasrallah and the fall of the Assad regime, and therefore we are facing a new Middle East, or even a new planet. The second is that the war has not ended, and today we are in a period of truce, and I see that the date of the January 9th session does not resemble previous dates because it was determined specifically during the truce period, as if it were part of the concluded agreement, and therefore the failure to elect a president will indicate that there is something wrong. Third, I have been working for three years on a project for Lebanon, and for this purpose I established, with a number of friends from different sects and experiences, the “Homeland of Man Project” in order to fix the current situation in the country, which can be likened to a system that has been broken for years.”
He said: “I was previously certain that we would have a president on January 9, but some things changed over the past weekend, and I now have fear of what is to come and a conviction that if we do not elect a president, there is some imminent danger, because we are still in a period of There is a truce and there are those monitoring the extent of our commitment to the signed 6-page agreement.”
He continued: “There are those who are watching to ask us later if the army is able to control the situation, if the Council of Ministers adheres to the signed agreement, and if we will elect a president to consolidate the construction of the state. Otherwise, there is fear for Lebanon as an entity because we will be considered a failed state like a bankrupt company that ends up selling its assets. In this regard, the fear is for southern Lebanon, which contains two enormous resources, namely water and gas in the sea, and I fear their loss under international cover. Israel launched the last war against Hezbollah, but if we fail to implement the agreement, I fear that the war on all of Lebanon will become like a failed state, and Israel will use this pretext to control its assets. This is a cry I address to all concerned. Therefore, there is fear for the entity in Lebanon, which will be in great danger if we fail to elect a president of the republic, but will the statement be translated into reality?
He continued: “We must not forget that there are American and French committees working on the ground to support and ensure that the agreement is implemented and that the “meter is running,” and certainly the Israelis would prefer that we fail to implement it so that we appear to the international community as a failed state. Therefore, everyone who loves Lebanon and is concerned about its future, from Hezbollah to all political parties and officials, must adhere to the implementation of the agreement to the letter. Even if we are not able to elect a president in the first session, we must remain in the parliament until a president is elected, as Speaker Berri said in an experience similar to electing popes in the Vatican Council, until we reach white smoke.
He said: “Things will unfold in the last week before the session, specifically in the last three days. If the government meets and requests the constitutional amendment, this is an indication of an agreement to elect one of the military candidates, General Joseph Aoun or Major General Elias Al-Bisari.” Therefore, the first week of the year is critical. Either there will be a constitutional amendment and thus elect a soldier, or we will enter the January 9 session with two candidates and without a constitutional amendment. We will be faced with the ideal democratic scenario and the fastest way to elect a president. If the number of candidates is larger, we will have open and long sessions, but we must not leave the session before electing a president. There is a wait for America’s position regarding the presidential election, in addition to Saudi Arabia’s position on it, which has not yet said its word, and Speaker Berri is still waiting regarding the constitutional amendment.”
Regarding his chances and strengths to bear the responsibility of the presidency, he answered: “The problem in Lebanon is that if you are nominated by one of the blocs, the other blocs will be against you, and perhaps this matter is good, as it makes me the Plan B presidential candidate for everyone, and this is better than the Plan A presidential candidate for one category.” Only, I have good relations with most of the parties. As for the second part of the question, a study at Harvard on more than 500 CEOs revealed that a true leader is one who has the ability to inspire, create momentum in the team, and direct energies towards one common goal, “to work with each other, not with each other!”
He added: “The one common goal in Lebanon’s second centenary is a real reform workshop, and this is what is required of the President of the Republic. I believe that a person’s life has no meaning if he does not have a message, and God has given him talents that he must bear fruit and implement. I consider that the weights I have are my experiences that I have accumulated over the years from Aintoura School to the American University of Beirut and then practical experience in INDEVCO, building institutions and managing crises in Lebanon and abroad. My strength lies in the fact that I have experience in building institutions. I am an engineer and my mission is to detect faults and build machines that we can repair and increase productivity. What I seek is to reform the broken state in Lebanon and achieve its prosperity. He considered that the economy is the basis for enhancing national security, as economic growth is what gives countries the ability to arm, protect, develop the required infrastructure, and the freedom to make appropriate decisions in foreign policy. In the next stage, we need someone who has experience in managing change and building institutions and who has credibility that gives him confidence, in addition to morality and impartiality, to remain free from human weakness and temptations. I do not hide here that my family is very afraid for me since I announced my candidacy for the presidential elections, and my young son expressed to me his fear for my life, so I asked him, “Do you know what is the most beautiful thing I can offer you?” She continued, “To build a country for you and your generation that you can be proud of.”
Regarding the obstacles that the president may face, he said: “The internal consensus in Lebanon to elect a president has always been fragile, and when it falters, the victim is the elected president.” The worst thing that could happen to me is that I become president and after years I am not able to accomplish anything, as if I were an “internal student in Baabda.” But I learned in the Lebanese Scouts that when there is no road, we make the road ourselves. In any case, it is time to work hard and diligently, with full faith that tomorrow will be better than today and that today is better than yesterday.”