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Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has called for the election of Free Patriotic Movement founder Michel Aoun as president followed by the appointment of Future Movement leader Saad Hariri as prime minister, saying it was the solution for Lebanon’s political deadlock. “Maybe there are those that have questions regarding Gen. Aoun’s program, alliances or performance, but let them offer other options that can be implemented,” Geagea said Saturday. “From our part we find the solution is in Aoun becoming president and our ally Saad Hariri becoming premier.”
Geagea was speaking during a memorial mass at the LF’s headquarters to commemorate the Lebanese Forces’ Martyrs.
He called on Lebanese lawmakers, especially Aoun’s March 8 allies, to hold a vote.
“They should support him, not just through words, but through actions,” he added, referring to Hezbollah and its March 8 allies, who have boycotted all presidential vote sessions.
Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Sleiman ended in May 2014.
Geagea warned that holding parliamentary elections without a new president would only deepen the country’s political crisis.
“If we reach the date of the parliamentary elections without a president, even if we have agreed on a date to vote for one, we will only be taking two steps back,” Geagea told thousands of LF supporters.
Parliamentary elections are scheduled for summer 2017. According to Geagea, in the case that parliamentary elections are held on time, but without a new voting system in place, the elections will not have served their purpose of adjusting representation in the parliament.
Geagea’s endorsement of his wartime rival Aoun for the presidency earlier this year was met with surprise. Geagea defended this recent rapprochement, saying that it has put a dark period in relations between the two main Christian parties in the past. “Some may think this is only a relationship of interest … but this agreement began with the presidential issue and will go beyond that,” he said, promising that it will have a positive impact on Lebanese politics in general.
Geagea criticized Hezbollah for exacerbating regional turmoil through its involvement in the Syrian crisis, saying that it is fighting there to “further its interests” and not to fight terrorism.
The LF chief also promised to launch a war against “rampant corruption” in the Lebanese government, referring to the unresolved trash crisis and internet scandal.
“Those who were able to get the Syrians out of Lebanon will not find it hard to combat corruption in the Lebanese state,” he said, referring to 2005 forced withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon, following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Geagea said that he expected a revolution to erupt in Lebanon, similar to those seen in other Arab countries since 2011.
“The winds of change, which swept the Arab world, will reach Lebanon, because our people have had enough of corruption and will not stand with our hands tied … I see a revolution on the horizon.”