The Kataeb political bureau considered that any initiative aimed at facilitating the election of a president of the Republic should be accompanied by “a goodwill gesture from those attempting to impose their will and delay the election of a president to secure their candidate,” alluding to Amal and Hezbollah.
According to the Kataeb, the aforementioned alliance should propose multiple candidate names to encourage dialogue with the opposition, which is actively engaging to break the presidential deadlock.
In a press release issued on Tuesday after its weekly meeting, the party led by MP Samy Gemayel observed that “Lebanon is paying the price for the behind-the-scenes showdown in the negotiations” for a cessation of hostilities in Gaza and southern Lebanon.
The statement emphasized the most concerning aspect, noting that the proposed solutions do not take into account Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, or the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons. The Kataeb cautioned against the risk of Lebanon “moving towards a stateless condition, where an armed militia unilaterally dictates decisions on war and peace, pushing the country into a path of conflict.”
The party criticized the Syrian regime’s objections to the Army’s observation towers on the border, highlighting that Damascus “has consistently wanted to keep its borders with Lebanon open to facilitate arms smuggling and various illicit activities.”
