During a meeting on Monday with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdellatif Deriane, the Lebanese Forces (LF) reaffirmed their commitment to electing a president, appointing a prime minister and forming a government.
They view these three steps as crucial for “Lebanon’s recovery and for facilitating the implementation of international resolutions, as well as for repositioning the country on the regional and international fronts.”
MP Ghassan Hasbani, who led the LF delegation, emphasized these points following the meeting with the Mufti. He stated that “Parliament must convene, MPs should participate in the vote and conduct consultations if needed, and voting rounds should proceed until a president is elected.”
Hasbani’s remarks largely echoed the positions articulated by LF leader Samir Geagea in his Sunday speech during the mass honoring the party’s martyrs.
“We cannot accept initiatives that breach the Constitution,” Hasbani reiterated at the end of the meeting, referring to the call for dialogue made by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. This call was renewed on Saturday during Berri’s speech marking the 46th anniversary of the disappearance of Amal Movement founder, Imam Moussa el-Sadr, and his two companions.
In this context, he stressed the importance of upholding Lebanese fundamental principles and condemned “attempts to divide the people and plunge them into sectarian conflicts,” highlighting the crucial role of Dar al-Fatwa in “uniting all Lebanese.”
The war in Gaza and the situation in southern Lebanon were also discussed during the meeting. “While we deeply respect the Palestinian cause, we are also aware of the risks to Lebanon if conditions in the south keep on worsening,” Hasbani stated. He underlined the large number of people who have been displaced from their homes in southern Lebanon since the beginning of the Gaza conflict, and the significant material damage sustained by the region due to nonstop clashes between Hezbollah and Israel.
A Lebanese Forces official told This is Beirut that the visit to Dar al-Fatwa is part of their broader effort to strengthen ties with various national institutions.
