MTV website exclusive:

No politician in Lebanon has the right to boast about not succumbing to foreign influence. Yesterday, the Free Patriotic Movement launched a campaign portraying itself as the sole possessor of independent decision-making. The FPM conveniently forgot its submission to foreign will when it agreed, in Doha, to elect General Michel Sleiman.

Every political party in Lebanon has its own story with foreign influence. Hezbollah has the most significant one, as it serves as one of Iran’s arms. For decades, Syria controlled the decisions of many, naming presidents, forming governments, and meddling in every detail. Sleiman Frangieh was France’s candidate, with the French attempting to promote him two years ago, just as they tried to support him in 2016 before General Michel Aoun was elected president.

The stories are numerous, and the interventions come from various sources. Lebanon is a small country, and its parties have weak resistance against foreign influence, which relies on a mix of rewards and threats.

Therefore, some should spare us their delusions of heroism—everyone bears their share of blame when it comes to sovereignty and independent decision-making.