Member of the Democratic Gathering bloc, MP Marwan Hamade emphasized the need to elect a president for the republic, stating that it is not possible to continue obstructing the parliament or to be absent from attending it. He said, "We have never been absent from the parliament, and every time we voted for a person, our voting for one does not mean animosity towards the other."
Hamade talked about the invitation extended by the former head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, to the head of the Marada Movement, Suleiman Franjieh, for dinner on Monday, clarifying that "the invitation is not for Suleiman Franjieh as a presidential candidate but rather for Suleiman Franjieh, the northern leader and head of the Marada Movement." He indicated that the dinner is part of the steps being taken by the Progressive Socialist Party and the Democratic Gathering to resolve certain issues. Hamade revealed in an interview on the "Neharakum Said" program via LBCI that "there are more dinners coming with other parties."
On another note, Hamade viewed that the dynamics of the ongoing war have overshadowed all attempts at de-escalation, noting that all American, French, German, and other visits are merely "an increase in commission." He pointed out that Israel is continuing its plan to destroy Gaza and achieve specific objectives there, which have been adjusted as Israel has not been able to free the hostages through military means nor eliminate "Hamas." Hamade noted that Israel has suffered unprecedented losses in its historical wars against the Arabs and observed that the Arab-Israeli conflict has never expanded to include all these arenas, indicating a real Iranian-American war.
He stated, "The only protective front on the borders of Palestine is Lebanon, which was supposed to be the last country to provide military support and the first to support politically, diplomatically, and in media for the Palestinian cause, and it has now been thrown into the furnace of war by an Iranian decision. We hope that Hezbollah does not get drawn in further." Hamade remarked that "wherever we look, there is a global war distributed across small regional wars."
