The leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF), Samir Geagea, expressed skepticism about the success of the Bkerke initiative, which is sponsoring inter-Christian meetings to achieve a unified political stance around a roadmap that brings back the Lebanese constants. The aim of this initiative is to put an end to the dysfunctions that have been blocking the country for years, and to pave the way for the holding of the presidential election.
In an interview with Télé Liban on Wednesday, Mr. Geagea made no secret of the fact that he has few illusions about the outcome of these meetings, which are being held far from the limelight, justifying his skepticism by the calculations and the interests of the FPM leader Gebran Bassil.
"I'm not convinced by these meetings, but the LF are taking part for different reasons, mainly for the Church", he said, stressing that he was "familiar with the approaches, practices and views of the Free Patriotic Movement, which has been in power for almost 15 years without doing anything". On the other hand, he did not comment on the decision of the Marada (whose leader, Sleiman Frangieh, is the candidate of the Amal-Hezbollah tandem for the presidency) not to join the Bkerke talks.
For the Maronite Patriarchate's initiative to succeed, Samir Geagea advocated an initiative focusing solely on Christian groups sharing the same principles and political positions. Because," he said, "if Hezbollah agrees with Gebran Bassil on a candidate other than Sleiman Frangieh for the presidency of the Republic, the head of the FPM will hasten to follow him".
For the LF leader, it is "indisputable that Bassil is using Bkerke to bail himself out politically". "His party has no historical political line. In the 90s, it succeeded in destroying the only free region in the country under the pretext of a "unification of arms" (...) then in 2005, it endorsed the illegal arms (of Hezbollah) under the pretext of the weakness of the State. This party has no political constants, but interests that drive it to associate with whoever can guarantee them".
In addition, the head of the LF said he was ready to discuss a third candidate (other than Sleiman Frangieh and Jihad Azour) for the presidency, but "on condition that he has the same characteristics as Mr. Azour", the candidate of the opposition and the FPM.
In an interview with Télé Liban on Wednesday, Mr. Geagea made no secret of the fact that he has few illusions about the outcome of these meetings, which are being held far from the limelight, justifying his skepticism by the calculations and the interests of the FPM leader Gebran Bassil.
"I'm not convinced by these meetings, but the LF are taking part for different reasons, mainly for the Church", he said, stressing that he was "familiar with the approaches, practices and views of the Free Patriotic Movement, which has been in power for almost 15 years without doing anything". On the other hand, he did not comment on the decision of the Marada (whose leader, Sleiman Frangieh, is the candidate of the Amal-Hezbollah tandem for the presidency) not to join the Bkerke talks.
For the Maronite Patriarchate's initiative to succeed, Samir Geagea advocated an initiative focusing solely on Christian groups sharing the same principles and political positions. Because," he said, "if Hezbollah agrees with Gebran Bassil on a candidate other than Sleiman Frangieh for the presidency of the Republic, the head of the FPM will hasten to follow him".
For the LF leader, it is "indisputable that Bassil is using Bkerke to bail himself out politically". "His party has no historical political line. In the 90s, it succeeded in destroying the only free region in the country under the pretext of a "unification of arms" (...) then in 2005, it endorsed the illegal arms (of Hezbollah) under the pretext of the weakness of the State. This party has no political constants, but interests that drive it to associate with whoever can guarantee them".
In addition, the head of the LF said he was ready to discuss a third candidate (other than Sleiman Frangieh and Jihad Azour) for the presidency, but "on condition that he has the same characteristics as Mr. Azour", the candidate of the opposition and the FPM.
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