MP Walid al-Baarini, who represents the impoverished region of Akkar in parliament, has defended his recent call for “federalism,” saying his proposal “carries unification rather than partitioning as some are claiming for their own reasons.”

“Perhaps there is a necessity now for each side to win its right from the central state, regardless of numbers, strength and affiliations,” Baarini said in an interview with the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper.