Former Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel: If We Don't Have Elections, Lebanon Will Split Apart; Fraudulent Elections Are A Million Times Better Than No Elections

Former Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said in a March 27, 2022 interview on Al-Jadeed TV (Lebanon) that Lebanon will either have elections and fix its constitution, or it will split apart and be partitioned. He said that the people do not want to hear about federalization because they are hungry and because they want back the money that the banks stole from them. He also said that partition would be open and bloody, and that elections are the only way to prevent it. He also said: "Fraudulent elections are a million times better than no elections."

Marwan Charbel: "Seriously, unless there are elections, two things could happen.

"Either we opt for amending the Lebanese constitution by consent, see what mistakes are there, and improve the constitution, or we are heading towards partition. You cannot tell people who are hungry that you want to establish a federal state. They are hungry! You can't talk to them about a federation. It is the last thing they care about. They want security. They want back the money stolen from them by the banks. You can no longer talk to the citizens the way you used to talk to them."

Interviewer: "Will this be partition in disguise?"

Charbel: "No, blood will be shed. Are we not divided already?"

Interviewer: "This is why I ask you whether it will be disguised..."

Charbel: "No, no. It will be out in the open. If you do not want elections, then partition it is. If you do not want partition, conduct elections. There is no other solution. None. Who will extend the term of the parliament? Which MP? Which Bloc? Nobody will. How will they do it, anyway? Via the internet? Will they convene? Nobody will come. So let there be elections. This is our only hope. There must be elections, no matter what. The damage from not conducting elections is much worse than from conduction them. For me, fraudulent elections are a million times better than no elections."

Interviewer: "Fraudulent elections are better than..."

Charbel: "Yes, fraudulent elections are a million times better."