The "Sovereign Front for Lebanon" commemorated the second anniversary of its establishment in Maarab, with the participation of the leader of the "Lebanese Forces" party, Samir JaJa, and its members.
JaJa began his speech by responding to those questioning what the "Sovereign Front" has achieved amid the ongoing deterioration in the country, saying: "These questions are misplaced because the front is part of a whole, part of a comprehensive national opposition represented in Parliament by a solid nucleus of 31 deputies, which can reach about 60 deputies. Hence, the situation remains stable as it currently is. This opposition has acted in the best possible way since the parliamentary elections according to the mandate granted to it by the people." He pointed out "the ideological differences with the other faction, but our enmity is not due to that; rather, our main issue is with the resistance team because they are 'clenching their teeth on the country and want to rule without knowing how'—the clearest proof is that they had a president of the republic and a parliamentary and ministerial majority in recent years but failed."
He added: "Today, the caretaker government consists entirely of the resistance team alongside the 'Free Patriotic Movement.' Nevertheless, why do they not conduct business as they should? Even Hassan Diab's government did not take any steps to address the significant deterioration in the country, and during the entire term of President Michel Aoun, no measures were taken to avoid the crisis." He viewed that "the resistance team is holding the Lebanese people and the Lebanese state by the throat until they lead them to ruin and destruction," explaining that "this axis, with the end of Aoun's term, insists on renewing itself for six more years by bringing its candidate, but the 'opposition' was on guard and did a tremendous job to prevent this renewal, even though it was not easy."
JaJa stated: "They have reached a point where they are 'the Embassy Shiites,' colluding with some in the French government in an attempt to push their candidate through, leading to intervention from both France and Iran and pressure on other regional powers in this context, but they failed because there are those who stood as a solid barrier on the ground alongside regional and international countries 'not particularly interested in this project.' Thus, without this internal front, their project would not have failed because 'no one is willing to fight these days for Lebanon from abroad'... and the confrontation continues."
He emphasized that "the resistance axis's project is different from the state's project and strategy," noting that "the opposition's priority begins from the Abdallah and ends in Naqoura, at worst, and from Beirut reaching the Baalbek in its farthest limits, while this 'axis' considers everything we called merely a small region within a much larger nation and operates for its interests, which often conflict with the interests of Lebanon and its people, hence it is willing to prioritize this nation over the interests of the Lebanese, leading to the country’s collapse, the deterioration of its people’s condition, the loss of their deposits and funds, and their international and Arab image."
He continued: "The other team managed to hold onto the country after 30 years of Syrian tutelage followed by control from 'Hezbollah' and some Lebanese mercenaries and 'cheese-eaters.' Therefore, we are in a confrontation with a very strong internal enemy financially as its budget exceeds 40 million dollars coming from abroad alone, in addition to its well-known trade, smuggling, tax evasion, customs, military and security apparatuses, with its latest act being the assassination of comrade Elias Al-Hosroni."
He added: "From here, we must always remember who we are facing and what the balance of power is and the true state of affairs, not to stop at a certain limit but to adjust our steps and achieve success in the confrontation. At one point, many of the sovereigns preferred to stay 'to the side,' and many of our former friends were with the other team, so we continued, for a certain period, in the actual confrontation alone."
JaJa concluded: "This year, we have managed to confront this 'massive machinery,' which is a significant achievement, leading to the unveiling of the reality as it is, and we managed to prevent the resistance axis from renewing itself, and this has become almost final even if they continue to attempt. We will continue until the end so that the Lebanese live in freedom and dignity in their country."
For his part, "Renewal Bloc" Member of Parliament Ashraf Rifi said: "As Lebanese, we Christians and Muslims are united to build a homeland that resembles us and does not resemble the other, a homeland that cannot be described as a terrorist field or a captagon factory but resembles Amin Maalouf, Najah Salam, Fairuz, Philippe Salem, Joseph Qumayr... and the other side should not think, even once, that our dignity began with their resistance; it has existed since history alongside sovereignty with our heads held high."
He pointed out that "this isn't the first battle we participate in together, as the 'Sovereign Front' was established before the parliamentary elections, and we indeed unified, Muslims and Christians, and fought the battle with pride 'on the roof' especially in Tripoli, where we allied with 'the forces' whose candidate won votes from both Christians and Muslims, within a national framework that refutes all distortions and slanders."
Rifi, who extended greetings to Front member Ali Khalifa from the Shiite opposition, "and through him, a thousand greetings from Tripoli to Tyre, Sidon, and the far south," affirmed that "the homeland is final for all its children, and we are in Tripoli above all sects and sectarianism and regions, despite the other team's attempts to demonize its people, accusing the Sunni of ISIS affiliation, the Christian of collaboration and the free Shiite of 'Embassy Shiites.' But this logic has failed, and we have proven that we are nationalists, while it is a soldier in the army of the Wali al-Faqih, while 'I' am an officer in the Lebanese Republic, which will become larger than its republic."
He stated: "What distinguishes us is our national melting pot and the plurality that constitutes added value, and we will continue in this direction. Whoever believes that in a pluralistic nation any component can succeed in dragging us to a place we do not want and an environment that does not resemble us even if it carries arms is delusional."
He emphasized that "change has started even in the environment controlled by the Iranian project, as our loud voices have given hope to the people and our optimism is realistic, not illusory," hoping to reach the election of a new sovereign president for the republic to record the first defeat of the other project in history.
He added: "We united as MPs from blocs and independents, forming a front of 31 deputies that agrees on all positions, with around 15 deputies joining based on positions, which indicates that the strength and weapon of this team do not scare us and thus the homeland is not open to them. I recalled the 'hashish state' project that kills all its opponents fiercely to terrify them, but it overlooked the last part which outlines how the 'hashish state' was crushed. Thus, we will crush the other team to prove that we are the ones who determine the fate of this country."
