Head of Lebanon's Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) Gebran Bassil launched an unprecedented attack against Hezbollah on Sunday, threatening to break off the alliance established between the FPM and party by the 2006 Mar Mikhael agreement.
Bassil also did not spare parliament Speaker Nabih Berri - a Hezbollah ally - from his criticism.
Speaking at a press conference, the FPM leader spoke of "major change" that should cover all national life in Lebanon.
He spoke of the Mar Mikhael agreement, saying the FPM "chose understanding instead of strife".
"It struck a national agreement, not a sectarian one, "he added. "The deal also included an agreement on the defense strategy, consensual democracy and the building of a state where the weapons would only be used to protect Lebanon."
Bassil said he did not want to "eliminate" the understanding with Hezbollah, but rather he wanted to "develop it because it no longer applies to current challenges, especially economic and financial ones."
"We supported the resistance against Israel and ISIS and we supported it politically, not with money, weapons or lives," he went on to say.
"In return, we received political support to cement rights through national partnership and balance," he continued.
"We chose Mar Mikhael over Tayyouneh and we are committed to this choice," he stressed. "Where, however, has the Mar Mikhael agreement been implemented? Where is state building?"
The Tayyouneh area was the scene of protests organized by Hezbollah and its Amal movement ally in October against Judge Tarek Bitar who is probing the August 2020 Beirut blast. The protests soon escalated in clashes between the Shiite duo and Lebanese Forces supporters.
"Our priority is the state and reforms," continued Bassil. "Their priority is resistance and defending it. We have stated that the both can remain as long as the resistance stays under the state, not above it."
"We cannot lose the state [for the sake of the resistance], but we may gain the two."
Bassil, however, remarked that the Amal movement, led by Berri, now dictates the Mar Mikhael agreement.
He said the FPM signed the deal with Hezbollah, not Amal.
"When we discover that Amal is now calling the shots in the agreement, then we have the right to reconsider it," he added.
"Return to Mar Mikhael. You will find us there."
Bassil acknowledged that "we would be in a stronger position for the elections if we are allied with Hezbollah."
"But faced with the choice of winning the election or winning ourselves, we would choose our credibility and dignity," he declared.
Elections are scheduled for May.
