The head of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, stated that "the easiest way to elect a president is through dialogue," a phrase cited by President Nabih Berri in his press talk on Friday. However, Geagea noted that he found no trace of this in any article of the Lebanese constitution. He emphasized that the easiest, safest, and most constitutional way for electing a president remains the immediate and mandated call for an open session with consecutive rounds. He pointed to the recent French National Assembly, which held consecutive electoral rounds in one session that resulted in the election of a parliament president, despite the French parliament's more fragmented condition compared to the Lebanese parliament, which is divided into left, center, and right factions, each further subdivided. Yet, democracy succeeded in establishing its foundations, and he expressed hope that Lebanon would learn and adhere to its constitution, which is fundamentally inspired by the French constitution.
Geagea described Berri's linking of the dialogue tables that convened in 2008 and 2016 to the presidential elections as incorrect and contrary to all facts, stating that the Doha table was convened to address a deteriorating military-security crisis caused by Hezbollah's invasion of the capital and parts of the mountains, and was not intended to resolve the presidential election issue. He asserted that everyone knows neither the dialogue table nor those who engaged in dialogue brought about the presidential election; rather, it was only through bilateral and trilateral side consultations that this occurred, which is the only natural course for electing a president in Lebanon.
Furthermore, Geagea commented that recalling Berri's discussions about the Taif Agreement is misplaced, as that agreement had its own circumstances, and Berri and his axis should adhere to this agreement and the provisions of the constitution, ceasing the practice of obstruction and the creation of new customs.
As for Berri's assertion that all parties agreed to dialogue except one that he does not want, Geagea remarked that Berri should hold his dialogue with the mentioned parties as much as he desires, and when he calls for an open session with consecutive rounds, the Lebanese Forces will be the first to attend. Contrary to Berri's press findings, which do not reflect reality, the Lebanese Forces do not reject the candidacy of anyone, including former Minister Suleiman Franjieh, but they firmly and categorically reject obstructing the constitutional process to impose one candidate or another. Geagea cited the session of June 14, 2023, as clear evidence that what the "resistance" accuses the opposition of doing, it itself practices, having hastily withdrawn from that session, as well as previous ones before the conclusion of the first round, with members of Berri's parliamentary bloc among the first to leave. He questioned who is the one rejecting any other candidate and who is obstructing the constitutional process.
Geagea further questioned how Berri could say the opposition should present its candidate while former Minister Jihad Azour surpassed Franjieh. He called on Berri to apply the constitution and convene an open session with consecutive rounds, urging a halt to wasting time, diluting truths, and prolonging the suffering of the Lebanese people.
Finally, he criticized Berri’s statement that before reaching an election session, "it is necessary to approach the entire entitlement with a wide understanding that ensures the transition from electing the president to naming the prime minister and forming the government," calling this constitutional nonsense. He added that the Lebanese presidential election is an independent constitutional entitlement that should not be linked to any other entitlement or undermined, neglected, or placed under the influence and mood of one team or another, in any way. The same applies to naming the prime minister, electing the parliament president, or any other constitutional entitlement.
Geagea concluded by urging Berri to spare himself and the Lebanese people the effort in these difficult and crucial circumstances by calling for a serious presidential election session with consecutive rounds that will not end until a new president is elected.
