The "Strong Lebanon" bloc held its regular meeting presided over by MP Gibran Bassil, during which it discussed its agenda and subsequently issued a statement noting that "with the possibility of reaching a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, regardless of its outcomes and without regard for Netanyahu's need to continue the war in Gaza or the south, the Lebanese are invited to do everything possible to protect Lebanon by preventing the expansion of the war. This is the essence of the bloc's position rejecting the unification of arenas."
It called for "the election of a president for the republic as soon as possible, through consultation and consensus on a consensual president as an absolute priority, but through democratic competition if consensus fails. Consequently, it is the duty of the Speaker of the House to take the initiative, in accordance with the constitution, to transform the parliament into an electoral body in reality, convening open sessions until a president for the republic is elected, and this necessity should not be linked to any other events."
The bloc demanded that "the defensive strategy be among the most prominent issues before the next presidential term, and that it be established through dialogue and consensus in light of the sharp division among the Lebanese on defining the fate of the country unilaterally, and bypassing national partnership, which cannot be ignored, especially after the events of October 7, 2023."
It reaffirmed "the position of its leader regarding the need for all Christian and national forces to unite against the undermining of partnership through diluting the election of the president and usurping his powers in his absence by a truncated and non-constitutional government," urging these forces to "develop an operational plan for confrontation because deliberate exclusion impacts national partnership and the presence of Christians in the state."
The statement concluded with a warning against "the truncated government's disregard for the approaching municipal election date, without clarifying its stance to the Lebanese public regarding its preparedness for this and whether all elements for the success of the electoral process are available, as the elections are the responsibility of the government, not the responsibility of MPs. Moreover, allowing a vacuum in municipalities and elective positions should not be permitted as it has significant implications for the residents of cities and towns."
