Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed Wednesday that the right to protest is normal and the peaceful demonstrations are welcome, but the events that occurred on Tuesday night are rejected.
“The Future Movement supporters are inside their homes until now and where is the army?” he asked, adding that the security forces must protect the properties.
Following his meeting with central bank governor Riad Salameh, Hariri stated that “all the people blame the central bank, but there is an amount of 47 billion that the state borrowed for the electricity,” explaining that “had the electricity issue been resolved, these funds would have been with the people, but they are now with the owners of the private generators.”
“Who borrowed money and spent them, the governor or the state? Who neglected the electricity, the governor or the state?” Hariri asked.
“Some people say that I am responsible, yes I am but there are political forces that obstruct, such as the Free Patriotic Movement,” he stated, noting that the Future Movement has not held the energy ministry since Rafic Hariri’s days.
Answering a question about the possibility to dismiss Riad Salameh, the caretaker PM said that the governor has immunity and no one can oust him, calling for the formation of a new cabinet.
“My duty is to return and be with the people and I am not an employee for anyone,” he said.