The "Free Patriotic Movement" stated that "presidential elections are an absolute constitutional and national priority, necessitating all efforts to elect a president who embodies a comprehensive reform rescue plan, similar to what is outlined in the presidential priorities paper proposed by the movement. It also requires the implementation of this plan by a reformist government cooperating with a parliamentary council committed to enacting necessary reform laws. Otherwise, the election would be a mere formal requirement, albeit necessary, without halting the collapse or revitalizing the country."
In a statement, it called for "treating the presidential elections as a sovereign Lebanese obligation, not influenced by external parties, whether from the West or East, except through the interest of Lebanon and aiding the Lebanese in reaching an agreement among themselves, rather than imposing external interests on them. Therefore, it is time for dialogue and understanding among us as Lebanese, without waiting for external influence, and without accepting that anyone, from abroad or within, imposes their decisions on us. We, in the movement, will not act except according to our convictions for which we have fought and will continue to fight dearly."
The movement noted that "the depth of the crisis lies in a systematic destruction of the state, which has intensified over the past three years, and it cannot be resolved except through a systematic rebuilding of the state on the foundation of equitable constitutional partnership."
It pointed out that "the essence of the crisis extends beyond the presidential elections, and reducing it to this aspect is a trivialization of its significance. It is a crisis of a strong state, and a renewed assault on constitutional partnership and national balance."
The movement emphasized that "building the state requires actions through reform measures and the enactment of reform laws, such as those proposed by the movement. Protecting national partnership must be achieved by respecting the will of the components in their participatory roles and actual representation in constitutional institutions and their leadership. Anything less would be a destruction of the nation and its entity, something that the movement will fight to prevent."
