The media office of the "Lebanese Forces" party issued a statement saying: "The office is sorry that an experienced journalist like Mr. Nicholas Nassif repeats a phrase invented by the resistance axis in a desperate attempt to cover up their obstruction of the presidential elections. Nassif mentioned in his article, published today in the newspaper 'Al-Akhbar' under the title 'The Jar is Broken Between Le Drian and Hochstein,' and quoting Lebanese individuals who met with the French presidential envoy and the French ambassador in Beirut, Hervé Margot, the following: 'Christian politicians, especially the Maronites, are unable to agree on a candidate, which is one of the reasons for the lack of presidential election so far, and there is no trust or seriousness in dealing with the election as much as there is focus on the contradictions among Maronite politicians.'
The statement added: 'The media office regrets this decline in the political and media life in Lebanon to the degree that some allow themselves to engage in blatant and exposed deception. Thus, it is important for the office to confirm first that Christians have agreed on a candidate, which is former Minister Jihad Azour, and they brought him to parliament. However, the resistance axis, as usual, blocked the electoral session after the first round in which he managed to secure 59 votes. Had it not been for this deliberate obstruction, Azour would have become the President of the Republic in the second, third, or fifth sessions.'
It continued: 'Secondly, the resistance axis uses tools to cover its obstruction of the presidential elections, including the claim that 'Christian politicians are unable to agree on a candidate.' Instead of this axis moving on to another lie after the Christian politicians have agreed, it continues to repeat the same tune in a lie that follows another lie.'
The statement stated: 'Thirdly, Christian politicians are still united in electing Mr. Azour in any serious electoral session that the resistance axis allows to happen and gives way for democracy to take its course. Fourth, the media office confirms that the 'Lebanese Forces' are in close communication with the French administration, the French ambassador, and Mr. Le Drian, and have not heard from them what Mr. Nassif has parroted about the resistance axis.'
It concluded: 'Fifth, the media office challenges Mr. Nassif to reveal his sources to the Lebanese people, which he certainly will not do, because his source is not Paris, but rather the resistance axis. He faithfully relayed it because he is loyal to the interests of the resistance, not to his own credibility, which he continues to harm repeatedly.'"
