The head of the Marada Movement, Suleiman Franjieh, stated during a speech commemorating the Ehden massacre that "the circumstances we are currently experiencing are very similar to those of the Ehden massacre, which was paid for by Christians and all of Lebanon." He said, "Reconciliation has thwarted all elimination projects," adding, "I am committed to reforms, to the Taif Agreement, and to the principle of administrative decentralization; in my dictionary, there is no paralysis in political life, and a strong president does not say 'they did not allow us.'" He emphasized that "no one can outdo us in our Christianity, nationalism, and Arabism."
He continued, "To reassure the Christian community, we must confirm that the partner in the homeland does not want to eliminate us. Today, they accuse me of stepping outside the Christian decision, just as my late grandfather was accused in the past. The atmosphere has returned to sectarian and confessional incitement to gain public support, and they can no longer commit June 13 today; we are not asleep. No one can outdo us in our Lebanese identity, Arabism, and Christianity. We are not like others; they are in a crisis, and it is not the sect that is in crisis, and Christians should not be taken into further fear."
Franjieh addressed the "Free Patriotic Movement," saying: "You want a candidate from outside the system, while your candidate is from the system and the Minister of Finance of the impossible accounting. The movement proposed the name of Ziad Baroud, who is an 'organized and delicate' person, and then went back to propose the name of Jihad Azour, who belongs to the system that the movement claims it does not want a president from."
He directed his remarks to the "Lebanese Forces" and its leader Samir Geagea: "You are against the candidate of defiance, which is your right, but I want to remind you that in 2016, defiance was against me and 'Hezbollah' supported President Aoun, at that time the 'Forces' allied with 'Hezbollah's' candidate against me. The problem is not with 'Hezbollah' but with any open president who will take the Lebanese towards Lebanon, not towards cantons."
Regarding the nomination of Jihad Azour, he said, "They united against me on Azour, a son of the system. They support him for the presidency and protest against the decisions of the International Monetary Fund, for which he is an employee."
He expressed his willingness to agree on another candidate for the presidency: "We are in favor of dialogue and let's put the names on the table without preconditions." He emphasized that "the French initiative does not support us for the presidency as some claim," noting, "Our relationship with Patriarch Rahi is excellent."
He believed that it is difficult to elect a president in next Wednesday's session. He concluded, "I am a Maronite, a Christian, and an Arab on 'the surface.' I am committed to reforms, the Taif Agreement, and the principle of 'administrative decentralization.'"
