The leader of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, stated in an interview with "l'orient le jour" that they are "open to discussing French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian's 'third option' in the presidential file, while the major issue is that the resistance axis refuses the 'third candidate'. This team, led by Hezbollah, is the one obstructing the presidential elections, and thus, this entitlement seems to have reached a deadlock." He noted that "the Qataris are not proposing names but supporting the third option. Since the beginning of the presidential elections, it has been clear that Gebran Bassil does not want to see the Army Commander elected, not for principled reasons but due to his insistence on holding onto power. He attacks him because he is a serious presidential candidate. Therefore, this harsh rhetoric is unjustified. As for us, we do not have a veto on the Army Commander, but we will express our opinion when the time comes, considering that such a decision requires careful study and extensive consultations, as we are unaware of his economic and political vision for the country. I even do not know General Joseph Aoun."
He added: "We are not obsessed with Gebran Bassil, and it is not certain that an understanding will be reached between Mr. Bassil and Hezbollah to facilitate the election of Sleiman Frangieh. Additionally, Nabih Berri did not invite to a dialogue but to a play," questioning: "What dialogue are we talking about when the Shiite duo has clarified to the Qataris, the French, and the Lebanese that they have no alternative plan? Everyone knows that the dialogue will lead to nothing; they want to drag us into it to say that all the main parties met together but could not agree, and from here the entitlement is obstructed, primarily to absolve the resistance from this accusation. In this context, I want to send a message to President Berri: You are committed to going to the electoral session regardless of the outcome of the dialogue; your invitation to dialogue has failed. Go to the Parliament to elect a new president for the country."
Geagea emphasized that "Syrian refugees in Lebanon are no longer merely people fleeing the war in their home country; we are now facing the phenomenon of illegal Syrian presence in Lebanon. Everyone still remembers the first wave of refugees who arrived in Lebanon under difficult circumstances, but the reality is different now, especially since prominent figures in the Syrian opposition will not return to Damascus, yet they represent a minority in a tidal wave comprising more than 1.7 million refugees currently in Lebanon."
He considered it "good for Hassan Nasrallah to give importance to the refugee issue, but words are no longer enough. The party, along with its allies, including the Free Patriotic Movement, constitutes the entire caretaker government. Hence, this government can meet to discuss this urgent issue due to its severity, and thus, take two key decisions: First, to halt the actions of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, especially since we are not signatories to the agreements concerning refugees. I remind you that the Lebanese government issued a decision in 2002 affirming that Lebanon is not a country for refugees. How does the commission continue to provide aid and services to over a million refugees in Lebanon? The second decision is, 'the government must direct all security agencies to ensure the enforcement of existing laws in this field, especially regarding work permits and residency granted to foreigners residing in Lebanon, foremost among them, the Syrians.'"
In response to a question about the death of the widow of LF official Elias Hasruni in a car accident, Geagea viewed it as "an accident like any other," dismissing any link between her death and the assassination of her husband, but stating, "What I know is that the investigation into Hasruni's murder is not progressing because it is clear that Hezbollah is behind this crime."
