The Kataeb political bureau expressed its concern in a statement following a meeting chaired by the party's leader, MP Samy Gemayel, regarding "any deals that may be made at Lebanon's expense during a crucial moment that may necessitate the re-drawing of international decisions and the region's map, while the country suffers from the absence of a President who holds the authority to negotiate on these matters."
It warned that "Israeli demands to push Hezbollah away from the northern borders, carried by Western envoys, could turn into a bargaining chip that utilizes the party's surplus power to achieve gains at Lebanon's expense, undermining its sovereignty and independence."
The Kataeb party confirmed that "any step of this kind will be met with firmness and all available means," emphasizing "the need to immediately comply with international resolutions that safeguard Lebanon's sovereignty and independence, particularly Resolution 1701 alongside Resolution 1559 to ensure that no arms exist outside of legal authority."
It held "the remnants of authority responsible for shirking their constitutional duties and leaving Lebanon and its institutions at the mercy of internal and external whims, turning all obligations, the latest being the postponement of the Army Commander’s retirement, into a futile game that Lebanese people pay the price for in terms of their security and stability."
The political bureau reiterated "the demand for immediate compliance with the Constitution first and foremost, placing Lebanon's interests above all else, and starting, without any delay, the process of re-establishing authority that begins with electing a sovereign President of the Republic, free from the unreasonable conditions that Hezbollah is attempting to impose, which have proven to be futile."
