The head of the Marada Movement, Suleiman Franjieh, thanked "everyone who helped and stood by us in this strange and extraordinary electoral battle under a law we accepted, but it must be reconsidered because some achieved high numbers without reaching Parliament, while others with very few votes did." He noted that in Zgharta, there was a decline and a breach from civil society, stating, "We expected 3 and ended up with 2." He does not consider them competitors, but advised them to deal realistically without imposing conditions that narrow their margin for maneuvering. He warned them not to set conditions on themselves to avoid becoming isolated, highlighting the difference between reality and ideals.
He expressed, "We have gone through an unusual electoral battle," adding, "We accepted this law, but it needs to be changed; it takes 3 days and 30 computers to conduct the calculations." He pointed out that "we worked on minds while others worked on stomachs," indicating that "people want to eat and live," and called for "everyone's cooperation to lift the country from its crisis," noting that "what we perceive from statements is not reassuring, so it is essential to turn towards flexibility and openness to save the country, and all political forces must avoid dealing negatively."
In response to a question, he affirmed that "every presidential election has its own circumstances, and our position has always been that the president must have a base." He clarified, "I have not closed my door to anyone and we will not impose ourselves on anyone, nor will we make concessions at the cost of our dignity." He also remarked that "the election results are not related to presidential calculations; those without the majority have the blocking third. From day one, my name was proposed, but I did not present myself as a presidential candidate; circumstances will determine who will be the president of the republic."
He added, "We must look ahead to see how we can save our country, and if we do not all participate in a national unity government, the country will be in crisis, and we must dialogue and open up." He pointed out that "the media played a clear role in supporting a specific atmosphere. Media should highlight the positives, and if the people want change, let it be, but the hope is that we do not regret it after four years. Today, Lebanon's economic interests must be a priority."
Franjieh perceived that "those who claim the elections went smoothly are mistaken, but they have ended and imposed a new parliamentary council. An atmosphere of dialogue and understanding leads to solutions," emphasizing that "if we engage in disputes, the country will halt, and if everyone does not cooperate, a problem may arise."
In response to a question, he stated, "William Tawk is part of the human fabric just like Strida and Samir Geagea, and saying that Hezbollah entered Basharri is like saying if Michel Douaihy won, Israel entered Zgharta. This is unacceptable, and we must move away from this language to save the country." He concluded, "Everyone should reflect on where they went wrong and where they were right," emphasizing that "we have only ever worked for the benefit of our people and regions, and a tense atmosphere leads only to problems."
