The President of the Free Patriotic Movement, Deputy Gebran Bassil, stated that "the danger is represented by the gradual exclusion of Christians from governance and from the administration and economy of the state, beginning with the selection of a president on their behalf or preventing the election of a president, reaching violations of the constitution and the charter, and undermining partnership in the government and the parliamentary council." He warned in a speech after a meeting of the party's political council about "the many misguided paths of the caretaker government and the domination over the presidency and the powers of the president, but 'it doesn't matter' to them, the provocations continue without limits, a caretaker government in the absence of a president acts as if it is a fully empowered government as if the president were present, holding regular sessions and normal agendas and issuing decrees without all the ministers and rejecting laws. The situation has reached the point of appointing a first-class employee without the minister's proposal or signature, where all red lines have been crossed, as making this decision undermines national partnership, and remaining silent about it undermines national unity."
Basil clarified that "those in charge of the government are ruling without a president and without the Christian component, and they are forcing us to accept the president they have chosen for us if we do not accept governance. He stressed that it is a mistake to believe that we can remain silent." He announced that "the movement will increase its positive engagement and action until we reach an agreement on electing a president, as there is no solution other than that. From our side, we will not accept being imposed a president who does not align with our convictions and the options of the people we represent, no matter how great the temptations or pressures increase. And on the side of the resistance and opposition teams, no one can impose a president on the other side."
He added, "Therefore, dialogue is the only way to agree on a name that contributes to building the state and protecting Lebanon together. We will be proactive and consultative, leading to an agreement and consensus on a program, specifications, and a name, while providing a specific and short timeframe to transition to open sessions, rather than consecutive ones, in the Parliament in the absence of agreement until the election occurs democratically."
The President of the Free Patriotic Movement emphasized that "the absolute positivity for agreeing on a president is met with absolute negativity in facing the undermining of partnership and the charter... Our partnership, role, and existence are rights for our people, and we will not compromise on them for any benefit or authority. They are rights that we will not relinquish."
