The political body of the Free Patriotic Movement held its regular meeting online, chaired by MP Gebran Bassil. After the meeting, a statement was issued stating:
"The political body is surprised by the approach taken by the designated Prime Minister who does not initiate any consultations or actions aimed at forming the government. It reminds him that the Lebanese government is born in Beirut through joint efforts between him and the President of the Republic as equal partners in the formation process and in consultation with the parliamentary blocs. The body believes that ignoring the constitutional, national, and political realities is a deliberate prolongation of the crisis and waiting for external forces to interfere in a Lebanese sovereign matter without the possibility of these external forces resolving the internal balances and equations."
The statement confirmed that the relationship of the Free Patriotic Movement with the Maronite Patriarchate is based on respecting this site and its role historically and presently. The movement shares in Bachouka's concerns regarding the protection of existence and its efforts to establish balanced partnership among the Lebanese in governance, as well as its rejection of anything that affects the Lebanese identity, borders, social fabric, and way of life. The political body reassures that attempts to disrupt this relationship will not succeed as it is built on sincere and profound dialogue, and it confirms the movement's openness to discussing any proposal from His Eminence Patriarch Raï, based on a genuine joint effort to protect Lebanon, relying on national constants and securing national understanding regarding major choices to establish complete and timely solutions and avoid any additional crises for Lebanon.
The political body emphasizes the movement's refusal to involve Lebanon in axis politics, its commitment to Lebanon's axis alone, and its distancing from any conflict not related to Lebanon's interests while confirming its engagement in the conflict with Israel. The body reminds that declaring Lebanon a neutral state is nationally beneficial and requires the fulfillment of several conditions, including the approval of the Lebanese and acceptance by neighboring countries.
The statement added that the political body reaffirms its commitment to the principle of international cooperation and maintaining Lebanon's relations with Arab countries, being open to any external support that comes to Lebanon within the framework of respecting its sovereignty and the independence of its decision. In this context, the body welcomes all that helps the Lebanese in:
- Revealing the truth about the Beirut port explosion and determining causes and responsibilities.
- Supporting the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and international organizations, as well as friendly and brotherly countries.
- Recovering looted funds transferred abroad and providing Lebanon with any useful information regarding corruption that led to the financial and economic collapse.
- Establishing Lebanon's rights to its land and resources, including oil, gas, and water, and assisting in the return of Palestinian refugees and displaced Syrians to their land to achieve international justice and maintain the Lebanese entity.
The body recalls that President Aoun proposed a project at the United Nations to make Lebanon a crossroads of civilizations and religions by establishing it as a center for the Academy of Humanity for meeting and dialogue, and this project received the approval of the United Nations by vote. Conversely, the body warns against any international project that opens the door to internal crises and is exploited externally to resolve regional crises at Lebanon's expense, such as the resettling of refugees and displaced persons or encroaching upon Lebanon's land, resources, and rights.
