The Lebanese Kataeb Party stated in a communiqué following a meeting chaired by the party's president, MP Sami Gemayel, that "the continuation of the presidential void piles up serious precedents on Lebanon, undermining the foundations of the state and toppling what remains of its institutions. The major responsibility for this lies with those hindering the completion of the election and the reformation of a capable authority to address the ongoing crises striking the country, including the vacancy encroaching on sensitive positions, the issue of Syrian refugees, appointments, and formations, among others."
It added: "The discussions raised in the media and through platforms about supposed calls for dialogue remain illusory and are merely campaigns led by Hezbollah to divert attention from its attempt to monopolize the presidential election and impose its candidate, which is an unencouraging conduct." The Kataeb Party also rejected the European Parliament's decision regarding "the issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the recommendation to keep them on its territory, despite all the crises Lebanon is experiencing, which were detailed in the decision's various points, ranging from the disruption of the presidential election to rampant corruption, mismanagement, and domination over will and sovereignty."
It continued: "It would have been better for the parties that voted in favor of the decision to listen to the warnings issued by entities within the European Parliament that closely monitor the Lebanese situation and recognize the risks of such a direction that burdens the Lebanese people beyond their capacity to bear."
The Kataeb Party expressed "thanks to its partners in the European People's Party for their stance rejecting the unjust decision and their efforts to prevent its approval and abstain from voting on it, reaffirming their solid partnership that dates back over ten years, wherein both sides share the defense of common principles and values."
It stressed that "the responsibility lies with the European Union to do justice to Lebanon by sharing the burden of Syrian refugees and distributing them to countries that have the capacity to ensure a decent life for them, rather than lecturing Lebanese people on humanity." It added: "The ruling system insists on bypassing the constitution and continues its scheme of normalizing the void and circumventing constitutional positions, sometimes by referring bills from a caretaker government that has no right to convene, and at other times by attempting to smuggle appointments, most recently through efforts to make diplomatic formations that are, to say the least, inconsistent with the procedures applicable in the ministry itself and in the absence of the President of the Republic."
The statement highlighted that "these practices further undermine the institutions and place the country in front of decisions and actions that could eliminate what remains of the structure of the Lebanese state."
