Gemayel Says Won't Join 'Presidential Deal' after Hizbullah Given 'Right to Impose Presidents'
Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel announced Thursday that his party will vote according to its “firm principles” in Monday's presidential election session and that it “will not take part in the current presidential deal” that will put Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun in the Baabda Palace.
"The last 'made in Lebanon' event was the Cedar Revolution, while this election and the manner in which it is being approached have nothing to do with the Lebanese people's aspirations, seeing as it was reached through the approach of obstruction and coercion,” Gemayel said at a press conference.
“This approach is a dangerous precedent,” he warned, noting that it would send a message that “obstruction leads to victory” in Lebanon.
Gemayel also pointed out that Aoun will not reach the presidency because he is “the strongest Christian candidate” but rather because of “Hizbullah's ethical commitment to his nomination.”
“This election will give Hizbullah the exclusive and sole right to impose presidents on the Lebanese,” Gemayel cautioned.
Referring to the rapprochement between Aoun and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea that contributed to boosting the FPM founder's presidential chances, the Kataeb chief described it as “an electoral alliance based on conflicting foundations.”
“Talk of Christian unity remains meaningless in the absence of a national project endorsed by everyone,” he added.
As for the period that will follow Aoun's election, Gemayel hoped the FPM founder will manage to dissipate Kataeb's “fears” and that his policies will resemble “the same spirit in which we struggled together for a free and independent Lebanon between 1990 and 2005.”
“We promise the Lebanese that we will deal with the new presidential tenure in the same manner you have become used to: we will criticize mistakes and support any step that is part of a Lebanese project,” Gemayel added.
“We reassure everyone that neither the presidential vote nor any political juncture will prevent us from supporting any party that works for real partnership, and accordingly we will be alongside any president in any step aimed at immunizing this partnership,” he went on to say.
“Let no one think that we would shy away from backing any stance targeted at restoring democracy and freedom, limiting the right to possess weapons to the Lebanese army, combating corruption, guaranteeing Lebanon's neutrality, and protecting it from adventures,” Gemayel stressed.
Gemayel had repeatedly reiterated that Kataeb would not vote for a candidate endorsing the political vision of the Hizbulllah-led March 8 camp, in reference to both Aoun and Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh.
Gemayel's stance on Thursday indicates that Kataeb's five MPs will cast blank votes.
Aoun was tipped to become president after al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri formally endorsed him last Thursday.
Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 and Hizbullah, Aoun's Change and Reform bloc and some of their allies have been boycotting the parliament's electoral sessions, stripping them of the needed quorum.
Hariri had launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Franjieh for the presidency but his proposal was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.
The supporters of Aoun's nomination have argued that he is more eligible than Franjieh to become president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.
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