The head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, stated that "the danger to existence increases every day, and protecting existence is an obligation; displacement is not a means to obtain the presidency, and leaving Lebanese citizens to confront the displaced is the conspiracy we want to avoid." During a public meeting in Qbayat - Akkar, he said, "Any claim that the army and security forces are incapable is false rhetoric aimed at the presidency. While personal ambition is permissible, it should pause in the face of the danger to existence." He noted that "thousands of businesses are operating at the expense of the Lebanese, and displacement has become organized under known smuggling gangs. You know the entry points and the individuals involved, so how can we believe that the security forces are unaware of them? Why don’t they close them and apprehend the smugglers?"
He added: "Our Prime Minister was present during the first wave of displacement in 2011 and is present in the second wave of displacement in 2023 after 12 years. If he is doing nothing but talking, should we make him Prime Minister again? We have political and security officials who are silent and facilitating the displacement process today. They are lenient in opening the land borders for Syrians to enter Lebanon and are strict in closing the maritime borders to prevent their exit. Should we bring one of them to the presidency?"
Regarding the call for dialogue by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Bassil affirmed that "the movement cannot be against meaningful and serious dialogue, but it is keen on its success. We have not set conditions, but we have defined the circumstances that lead to the success of the dialogue, that is, electing a president according to a program, because the program is more important than the individual. If the movement shows positivity and readiness, the response must be flexible, not imposed, as it has been proven that imposition does not succeed with us."
On the issue of Qleiat Airport, he said: "Last week, honorable MPs from the National Moderation Bloc visited me and discussed the matter of Qleiat Airport, and of course, I supported them in their project, not only because I am from the North but because I recognize its importance for the whole country. Akkar and Tripoli are the gateway to the Eastern economy and are the entrance to the Syrian depth, which will inevitably be reconstructed."
He continued: "To rebuild Qleiat Airport, we need funding, a decision from the Cabinet, a law from Parliament, a tender, and procedures. If all of these are secured, who says the Ministry of Finance won’t halt payments like what happened with the Deir Ammar plant? However, with the existence of the trust fund, and as soon as it is approved by Parliament along with its executive decrees, funds will be secured from the private sector and Lebanese investors, both resident and expatriate, to swiftly execute the Qleiat Airport, Hamat, Riaq, Rashid Karami Exhibition, Tripoli Port, its free economic zone, the gas and electricity plant, and other projects."
He concluded: "I know very well that the laws on administrative decentralization and the trust fund, like others, cannot pass without an understanding among the Lebanese; the only way to understand is dialogue. Therefore, our slogan has always been, as the General said, ‘Dialogue is the way to salvation.’"
