Lebanese Kataeb Party leader, MP Sami Gemayel, confirmed that the Kataeb Party will not "succumb to Hezbollah's desire to impose a president that serves its interests," rejecting the continuation "of the destructive approach for another six years, depriving the Lebanese of any hope for recovery and regaining the lives they dream of." He emphasized that "either Lebanon has a president accepted by all, or it has no president."
Commenting on the recent remarks of Hezbollah's Executive Council President, Hashem Safieddine, he viewed the party's recent style as resembling Israeli dealings, comparing, "It seems that the relationship between Hezbollah and the Israeli side has led the party's officials to borrow some ideas from the Israelis, to the extent that Hezbollah's logic promoting itself is akin to Israel's approach to dealing with the Palestinians. I assure the party that we reject this logic, as we are resistors who do not accept extortion and threats, nor will we accept imposition of conditions upon us, nor compromise our dignity, independence, and sovereignty, or the Lebanese people's right to self-determination. This matter is non-negotiable, and Safieddine's words are returned to their owners; the imposition logic is divisive, and we will continue the confrontation alongside our friends. We hope to maintain the same advanced position and continue this battle to the end for the sake of restoring our country and its decision."
After meeting with the Independence Movement leader, MP Michel Moawad, at the Kataeb headquarters, Gemayel affirmed that the country is under a new guardianship that Hezbollah is trying to establish, giving an option of either electing its candidate or facing a vacancy. He added, "We confirm that these words are returned to their owners; it is the Lebanese who decide the country's future."
Regarding the recent meeting of the Kataeb Political Bureau and Gemayel's visit to Paris, where he met with French presidential advisor Patrick Durel, the Political Bureau quoted the Kataeb leader affirming rejection of all proposals that trade between the presidency and the government, considering it "dangerous for the presidential election in Lebanon to remain hostage to Hezbollah, as it becomes an inevitable reference for electing the President of the Lebanese Republic."
The Kataeb Party observed that "dealing with the file of Syrians in Lebanon requires a new approach that takes into consideration several new factors that have entered the reality in Syria and Lebanon," holding "the Syrian regime responsible for not cooperating in ensuring their return in hopes of keeping the file as a leverage for investment in the normalization process with it." The party called on "friendly Arab countries to assist Lebanon in closing the file and putting it on the agenda of the Arab summit as a condition for Syria's return to the Arab fold."
