Geagea: We Must Begin Holding those behind Deadlock Responsible for their Actions

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea condemned on Friday the ongoing vacuum in the presidency, saying that the situation should not continue as it is, said the LF media office in a statement on Saturday.

Geagea said: “We must begin holding those behind the deadlock responsible for their actions.”

“We will risk prolonging the status quo if we fail to take any action to rectify the situation,” he said before an LF-hosted dinner.

“The Lebanese people have the power to either change the political class or not take any action and keep the situation as it is,” he added.

Geagea justified the LF's refusal to take part in the cabinet, noting the “state's absence in tackling the people's daily problems.”

“Those responsible for the absence of the state are obstructing constitutional institutions, starting with the presidency, cabinet, and parliament,” he remarked.

“It is true that we are facing several problems, but that does not mean that the situation is impossible to handle,” he added.

“We still have the solutions and we should decide our fate by ourselves,” he demanded.

“Each citizen must therefore carefully consider the situation and rectify it at the first democratic opportunity he gets, such as the parliamentary elections,” explained the LF chief.

“Those obstructing political life must be kicked out of it because they are hindering democracy, state institutions, and the interests of the people,” he said.

Lebanon has been plunged in vacuum in the presidency since the term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May.

Eight presidential elections sessions have been held, seven of which were obstructed due to a lack of quorum at parliament caused by a boycott by the March 8 lawmakers of the Change and Reform and Loyalty to the Resistance blocs over differences on a presidential candidate.

Head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun has repeatedly announced that he would run in the elections if there is consensus over his nomination.

Geagea, a presidential candidate himself, has repeatedly called on the March 8 alliance to name its candidate, holding the FPM responsible for the obstruction of the presidential elections.

The next elections session is scheduled for July 23.

M.T.