Geagea hints at the possibility of boycotting the presidential election sessions
In the event that the “Hezbollah candidate” managed to secure enough votes
Monday – 15 Rajab 1444 AH – 06 February 2023 AD
Samir Geagea (Media of the “Lebanese Forces”)
Beirut: «Asharq Al-Awsat»
The head of the “Lebanese Forces” party, Samir Geagea, confirmed that “former MP Suleiman Franjieh is far from securing 65 votes that qualify him to be elected president, contrary to the media campaign carried out by some.” In the first indication of the possibility of boycotting the election sessions if it is confirmed that Franjieh, whom Geagea described as “Hezbollah’s candidate”, gets the necessary votes, stressing that “we will oppose and confront everything that is possible to harm the country or renew the crisis.”
After the meeting of the “Strong Republic” bloc on Monday, Geagea stopped at the meeting of the five countries in Paris, considering that “these countries friendly to Lebanon are meeting on the impact of the crisis that our country is witnessing, and they are grateful for this step, while many political officials have to do so and they do not.” They think.” And stressing that “the names of candidates for the presidency will not be discussed during the meeting, given that the latter is being discussed internally and among the parliamentary blocs,” Geagea praised the importance of Lebanon having Arab and international friends who take care of it.
He described the meeting of the caretaker government as “illegal”, as “there is a constitution that if we ignore it, then this is the end of the republic, especially since the agenda included many points and some articles were added to it, while in fact one or two items should have been discussed due to their importance in light of the needs of the Lebanese.”
He emphasized that «(Hezbollah) did not abandon at any moment its actual candidate for the presidency, who is the head of the Marada Movement, Suleiman Franjieh, and today more than ever it insists on his delivery. From this standpoint, he acts in this way and disrupts the election sessions with the help of others who were supposed to ensure the proper functioning of the parliament.
He added, “After (Hezbollah) made sure that (the Free Patriotic Movement) would not vote for (the president of the Marada), it started touring the independent deputies, distributing roles between him and Speaker Nabih Berri, in an attempt to collect votes that would enable Franjieh to reach the presidency. But up to this point, their consultations and contacts did not lead to any results, and I think they will not.
He also indicated that “(Hezbollah) and its allies adopt the same method of (exhausting) the people and depleting the country’s resources in order to finally acquiesce in their choices, but this time we will not accept with them whatever the price is, rather this time (what they take us if we act as necessary). ) to prevent them from harming them because of their actions and overthrowing the constitution and laws.
Geagea was surprised that “at a time when we see them clinging to their candidate, we find them and their allies calling for dialogue over and over once more (they sang regarding dialogue day and night), knowing that the dialogues exist and are continuing between the blocs, the most important of which is their dialogue with the head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, which has not yet led to a result.” . And he added, “From here, I see that we are facing a play by (the party) and its allies to deliver its candidate despite all the tragedies.” Especially since they never wanted to. And he believed that «in the end, it is possible that they accept a candidate (who has no power and no power) if they do not find a glimmer of hope to deliver their candidate, which we will not accept, given that the arrival of this candidate will lead to extending the crisis for the next six years».
Regarding the parliamentary meeting to be held in Bkerke, Geagea stressed that “constant communication with His Beatitude the Patriarch (Maronite Beshara Al-Rai) in this context, as the (forces) are not once morest any meeting in Bkerke or elsewhere, provided that it leads to a result that takes us out of this crisis. The people are tired and are no longer interested in useless folklore meetings. From here, Geagea stressed, “The meeting must have the ingredients for success in order to produce the expected results, otherwise it is better not to convene.”
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