Deputy Tony Franjieh affirmed during a dinner organized by the Koura district committee of the "Mardeh Movement" that "in Lebanon, there are two perspectives. The first is represented by a side that wants a total war and wishes for it, constantly threatening the possibility of its occurrence, believing that through it they can rid themselves of Hezbollah. However, the truth is that this thinking will destroy not just a segment of the Lebanese population but all Lebanese and Lebanon itself. The second perspective, which we belong to, calls for seizing internal reconciliation before external solutions. After surpassing the barriers of war, we adopted a policy of an outstretched hand and a call for serious and frank dialogue free of conditions in order to build a prosperous Lebanon capable of offering opportunities to its citizens."
He emphasized that "the Lebanese choice that resembles us is a Lebanon free from war and filled with dignity. Therefore, we cannot abandon our dignity in order to live in peace, because the equation of sacrificing dignity for peace will produce not peace, but rather a complete loss of both dignity and peace."
Regarding the presidency, Franjieh pointed out that "the Maronite leaders previously met under the roof of Bkerke and concluded that any president of the republic should have both national and Christian standing, to prevent any gray or employee-like president from reaching the presidency. However, they are currently going against this agreement, even undermining it in search of their personal interests. Some Christians are looking for an employee for the presidency after confirming that reaching Baabda is impossible at this stage, and this behavior constitutes a blow to the presidency, the nation, the institutions, and Christians collectively."
He added: "Those who do not want to wait for any external settlement that reflects on the presidency in Lebanon have two options: either to go for transparent and clear dialogue or to hold an electoral session in which the Maronite leaders run for president, as the head of the Mardeh Movement, Suleiman Franjieh, has previously invited them to do."
He addressed the Christians, saying: "They always try to pose issues to create fear in our society, and one of these issues is the number. We thus invite everyone to return to the historical pioneering role of Christians in Lebanon in political, educational, social, economic fields, and more. Christians who built schools, universities, and institutions did so as Lebanese citizens before any other identity, and this has been their strength which we must cling to."
Franjieh concluded, stating that "the Mardeh Movement will remain present as always at the national level and among its people, regardless of whether its president, Suleiman Franjieh, reaches the presidency or not, noting that we are committed to his nomination, based on our insistence on a president who is not subservient, and we are confident that we are the ones who create presidents, not the other way around."