Amidst the current Christian alignment in Lebanon behind the positions of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, the "Free Patriotic Movement" (FPM) is trying to strike a balance in an attempt to avoid breaking its alliance with Hezbollah, which has openly rejected the Patriarch's proposals, particularly those related to neutrality and the convening of an international conference regarding Lebanon. The positioning of the FPM as a major party within the Christian environment means that stepping away from this alignment could have negative repercussions for it.
Despite the clear division that has emerged in the positions of the parties in recent days and on social media, FPM officials assert that there is no disagreement between them and the Patriarch. Additionally, deputies from its parliamentary bloc have met with the Patriarch in the past two weeks, though without announcing any clear positions on either the Patriarch's proposals or Hezbollah's stance, which criticized the Patriarch's call. Furthermore, the FPM did not record any calls, albeit non-partisan, for its supporters to take part in the movement organized yesterday in support of the Patriarch. Yesterday, the FPM reiterated its rejection of what it described as "noise" about its relationship with Bkerke, emphasizing that it is open to discussing any suggestion put forth by the Patriarch while simultaneously rejecting "entangling Lebanon in the politics of axes and committing to only Lebanon’s axis while neutralizing it from any conflict."
However, these stances lack significance for Imad Wakim, a deputy in the Lebanese Forces Party, as long as they are not accompanied by actions. He told "The Middle East": "The FPM, as a Christian party, is not in its natural position today as it is allied with Hezbollah, which embodies a state within the state and is dismantling it, while it has always called for sovereignty, freedom, and independence. Hence, all the words and positions issued by the FPM, in addition to its formal visits to Bkerke, are ineffective as long as they are not accompanied by practical steps on the ground to prove that." He questions, "Where does the FPM stand on its ally Hezbollah's attack on the Patriarch's proposals? It should at least announce its position opposing this matter to substantiate what it claims in statements."
While Wakim believes that the FPM is currently in an unenviable predicament, he states: "These positions are nothing but an attempt to beautify its image within the Christian environment. On one hand, it is unable to dissolve its alliance with Hezbollah, and on the other hand, it cannot confront Bkerke, knowing that Hezbollah's strength internally is not solely due to its weapons but also from the Christian cover that the FPM provides it." He considers "that this situation has begun to have negative repercussions on the FPM in the Christian arena, which is expected to reflect in the upcoming parliamentary elections."
In a direct stance from the FPM regarding those it considers contradicting or opposing the Patriarch's proposals, the FPM's political body confirmed, after its regular meeting chaired by Deputy Gibran Bassil yesterday, that "the relationship with the Maronite Patriarchate is based on respecting this position and its historical role. The FPM shares Bkerke's concerns about protecting existence and its pursuit of establishing a balanced partnership among Lebanese in governance, while rejecting anything that affects Lebanese identity in terms of borders, social fabric, and lifestyle." It assured that "attempts to disrupt this relationship will not succeed as it is based on honest and deep dialogue," and affirmed "the FPM's openness to discuss any proposal from Patriarch Rai based on the shared sincere pursuit of protecting Lebanon, rooted in national constants and ensuring national understanding around major choices, to establish complete and timely solutions and avoid any additional crises in Lebanon."
The FPM emphasized its "rejection of entangling Lebanon in the politics of axes and its commitment to Lebanon’s axis alone, neutralizing it from any conflicts not related to Lebanon’s interests while maintaining engagement in the struggle with Israel," reminding that "declaring Lebanon as a neutral state is nationally beneficial and requires fulfilling several conditions, including the approval of the Lebanese and acceptance by neighboring countries," affirming "its commitment to the principle of international cooperation and maintaining Lebanon's relations with Arab countries and openness to any external support that respects its sovereignty and the independence of its decision."
