The leader of the Lebanese Kataeb Party, MP Sami Gemayel, stated that "nothing distinguishes the initiatives proposed from that of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri," pointing out that "MP Ali Hassan Khalil clarified it yesterday as a dialogue process as previously called for by Berri."
Gemayel said: "Firstly, we have not seen any commitment from the other side to hold open sessions, not just consecutive ones. Secondly, the March 8 candidate Sleiman Frangieh has not withdrawn from the presidential race, thus we are still at square one today. I wonder how some have agreed to an initiative that does not address these structural points, especially given Hezbollah's refusal to discuss a third candidate."
He added: "The problem of not having a president today not only affects Christian positions and appointments but essentially dismantles the entire state and eliminates all possibilities for revival, the formation of a new government, and the enactment of reforms to revitalize the economy, as well as anything that could be done to save the country."
He continued: "For us, the solution lies in a clear stance from Hezbollah to accept another candidate and agree to a consensus with the rest of the Lebanese, considering that all initiatives that may be proposed will be subject to time-wasting."
He viewed "the imposition of a president on the Lebanese by the force of arms and cannon as effectively a coup by Hezbollah against the constitution by disrupting the democratic process, which has not been in its favor for a year and a half, stressing that this step will be met with resistance by all available means."
