The leader of the Lebanese Forces (FL), Samir Geagea, asserted that his party remains “in favor of dialogue at any time” but that it “will not succeed because the Shiite tandem (Amal-Hezbollah) is clinging to the candidacy of Marada leader Sleiman Frangieh.”
In an appearance on MTV on Monday evening, Geagea pointed out that “the extension of the mandate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, General Joseph Aoun, was the fruit of a dialogue between the opposition blocs and those close to the Speaker.”
As for his party’s dialogue with Hezbollah, Geagea felt that “the formation only does so with Iran, the United States, and its ally, Nabih Berri, who coordinates closely” on various issues. He asked, “Did Hezbollah ask the Lebanese for their opinion before opening the southern front against Israel?”
Geagea also went on to point out that “if the Quintet (United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt) is in favor of Frangieh’s candidacy, let them vote for him,” adding that “the countries interested in Lebanon are more in favor of that of the Army’s Commander-in-Chief, General Joseph Aoun.”
In addition, the leader of the LF felt that “the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, undermined the proposal of the Quintet ambassadors to opt for a third candidate and the convening of an electoral session,” lamenting that these countries had lost hope after his proposal to go back to a traditional dialogue.
