Samir Geagea
On July 1, the Lebanese News Agency reported on a statement Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea gave to reporters:
"Every Lebanese citizen has the right to know what is going on at the level of the government”s formation, especially as many slogans and theories are pitched daily. The obstruction of the formation is not due to the absence of political balance between March 8 and March 14, for this balance was secured in Doha. The formation of this government takes into account the Muslim-Christian balance. A lot was said about the monopoly of portfolios.
"The thing started with the Ministry of Finance and then others. We told the other camp, ‘If you think these ministries are monopolized by us, take them.’ Then, none of these slogans were raised again, especially since the portfolios are allocated between the president, General Michel Aoun and the Lebanese Forces.
"General Aoun wants his personal portion to be larger, and this is his right. But he has to announce it frankly, instead of claiming that the Christians’ portion is belittled since the Christian-Muslim balance as tabled in the new governmental formation is secured, whether at the level of numbers or the kind of ministries. This means that the Defense and Interior ministries will be given to the Christians…”
Questions and Answers:
Q: If General Michel Aoun was the one who obstructed the government, would you form a government without him?
Geagea: Hezbollah does not accept the formation of the government due to the political balance in the country, and without this balance, [Hezbollah] would not have had the freedom it enjoys now. Hence, it will not accept the formation of the government [without Aoun].
Q: If a national unity government was not formed, where would that leave the Doha Agreement?
Geagea: We insist on the formation of a national unity government that encompasses all rivals, on condition that no side should blackmail any other side.
Q: Yesterday, General Michel Aoun said he has offered many concessions, that he relinquished the presidency, and that you promised to give him [a notable position] in the government, but you did not. Why are you treating him this way?
Geagea: You are mistaken. General Aoun did not relinquish the presidency because it was not his property. General Aoun was a candidate just like other candidates.
Q: What portfolio does the Lebanese Forces want?
Geagea: The Lebanese Forces wants to be fairly represented, which will be achieved once the coming government is formed. Whoever wants to partake in the government”s formation should discuss this either with the president or with Prime Minister-designate Fouad Siniora…
Q: What happened to the electoral law?
Geagea: A session was held yesterday, and another one will be held today. We in the Lebanese Forces are in hurry to finish the issue of the electoral law. Our deputies participate in the sessions to speed up the discussion of the reforms mentioned in the Fouad Boutros Law…
Q: What is your comment on the prisoner swap deal with Israel?
Geagea: I am very happy about the return of the prisoners, but we have reservations over the negotiations that took place in the absence of the Lebanese state…