LEBANON: HIZBALLAH'S ELECTORAL PLATFORM: "RESIST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000416

SIPDIS

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: HIZBALLAH'S ELECTORAL PLATFORM: "RESIST
WITH YOUR VOTE"

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY AND COMMENT
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1. (C) Under the theme of "Resist with your vote," Hizballah
formally launched its electoral campaign on April 6.
Hizballah MP Mohammed Raad pledged economic, judicial, and
political reforms and called for fighting corruption and
abolishing political sectarianism. Raad credited Hizballah's
Memorandum of Understanding with Free Patriotic Movement
leader Michel Aoun for its July 2006 "victory" against
Israel. He further proposed a national defense strategy that
takes advantage of Hizballah's military expertise. Running
the same number of candidates, 13, as seats it currently
holds, Hizballah's six new candidates can be described as
intellectuals, a break from its previous parliamentarians'
religious or military profile. Hizballah is clearly
downplaying its role as a resistance against Israel and
attempting to paint itself as a political organization aided
by its alliance with Aoun, a prominent Christian leader. End
summary and comment.


2. (SBU) During an April 6 press conference in Beirut's
southern suburbs, Hizballah formally launched its electoral
platform for the June 7 parliamentary elections under the
banner of "Resist with your vote." Representing Hizballah,
MP Mohammed Raad pledged economic, judicial, and political
reforms. In addition to fighting corruption, he called for
tax reforms, an end to the budget deficit, and the formation
of a Planning Ministry to focus on sustained development. He
further proposed the establishment of an independent judicial
commission. Hizballah's platform also favors a "higher
committee that would work for the abolition of political
sectarianism, draft a modern electoral law, complete with a
constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 18 and to
separate parliament from the cabinet."


3. (SBU) Calling the elections an "opportunity to revive
Lebanon's political life," Raad stressed the party's support
for a strategy of "partnership, consensus, and state-building
based on the rule of law." Raad faulted UN Security Council
Resolution 1559 for dividing the country and credited
Hizballah's Memorandum of Understanding with Michel Aoun's
Free Patriotic Movement for strengthening unity in Lebanon,
which contributed to "Lebanon's victory in the July 2006
war." He called for a national defense strategy that takes
advantage of Hizballah's military expertise and capabilities.

CANDIDATES: MORE INTELLECTUALS,
LESS RELIGIOUS, MILITARY FIGURES
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4. (C) Hizballah announced 13 candidates in the
elections--the same number of seats it currently holds in the
128-member parliament. The following candidates have
registered to run:


A. Current MPs
-Mohammed Raad, Nabatieh
-Mohammed Fneish, Tyre
-Hassan Fadlallah, Bint Jbeil
-Ali Mekdad, Baalbeck-Hermel
-Hussein al Haj Hassan, Baalbeck-Hermel
-Nawar Sahili, Baalbeck-Hermel
-Ali Ammar, Baabda
-Amine Sherri, Beirut II (Note: On April 7, Sherri withdrew
his candidacy, reportedly due to Hizballah-Amel dealmaking on
candidates for this Shia sect. End note.)


B. Newcomers
-Dr. Nawaf Moussawi, Tyre: Moussawi is Hizballah's
international relations spokesman. Majoring in philosophy at
Beirut University, Moussawi has a reputation as an arrogant
intellectual figure. He meets regularly with those embassies
that have contact with Hizballah.


BEIRUT 00000416 002 OF 002


-Dr. Ali Fayad, Marjeyoun: A Shia, Fayad earned his doctorate
in international relations, reportedly from Oxford. He
currently serves as the director of the Islamic Research
Center, Hizballah's think tank.

-Hussein Moussawi, Baalbeck-Hermel: Moussawi, a Shia, is
also considered to be an intellectual.

-Walid Sukarieh, Baalbeck-Hermel: Sukarieh, a Sunni, is a
retired Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) general who deserted the
LAF to join sides with Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and
Speaker Nabih Berri during fighting during the civil war in

1984. He is the brother of current Hizballah MP Ismail
Sukarieh, who has said he would not run in these elections.
Both brothers have allied themselves with the opposition
March 8/Hizballah as their district in the Bekaa is
predominantly Shia. (Note: A Future Party alliance would not
get them seats. End note.)

-Emile Rahmeh, Baalbeck-Hermel: Chairman of the Lebanese
Solidarity Party, Rahmeh is a Maronite lawyer who served as
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's attorney when he was
arrested in 1994. Rahmeh was one of only a few Maronites who
remained close to former president Emile Lahoud after former
PM Rafiq Hariri's assassination in 2005. Seen as an
opportunistic Christian who would do better with a Hizballah
alliance than with Christian LF or FPM parties

COMMENT
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5. (C) Hizballah is currently downplaying its role as a
resistance against Israel and is attempting to paint itself
as a political organization. Its messages of national unity,
fighting corruption, and judicial/political/economic reform
are in sync with Aoun's theme of "change and reform."
However, it is not seeking a larger share of parliament than
it now has. At the same time, throwing its weight behind
Aoun in key Christian districts demonstrates that Hizballah
does indeed want the majority in parliament, but through its
Christian proxy.


6. (C) The profile of Hizballah's candidates have changed
over time. In 1992, it tended to run religious figures for
parliament and during the next two parliamentary elections,
it promoted more military types. This year, there are a
number of intellectuals who have not previously run,
indicative of Hizballah's desire to promote itself as a
legitimate, multi-confessionally allied political movement,
rather than a religious or military party.
SISON