Geagea Says Political Hustle in Lebanon Useless, Calls on Parliamentary Blocs to Elect President

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea considered on Tuesday the flurry of political activity that the Lebanese capital is witnessing to press the election of a new head of state “useless.”

“The election of a new head of state is a mere Lebanese process that relies on the parliamentary blocs,” Geagea said in an interview with the Saudi newspaper al-Jazirah, lashing out at the two blocs that are impeding the process, the Free Patriotic Movement and its ally Hizbullah.

The LF leader stressed that he will exert efforts to reach common grounds with the FPM over the presidential deadlock, saying: “Even if we failed to bridge the gap concerning the presidential post, I will not despair.

“I have the impression that we will be able to progress.”

The country's top Christian post at the Baabda Palace has been vacant since President Michel Suleiman's term ended in May.

Both Aoun and Geagea have announced their candidacies for the presidency. Their rivalry and the failure of the different parties to agree on a compromise candidate caused the vacuum at the presidential palace.

Asked about his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Geagea described his ties with Riyadh as “historical,” noting that the Gulf country is seeking to establish a strong Lebanese state “capable of maintaining its security and stability.”

“The Saudi support to Lebanon is always granted through the state and its institutions without any distinction between the Lebanese.”

Saudi Arabia and France inked in November in Riyadh a deal to provide the Lebanese army with $3 billion worth of French weapons, with Riyadh footing the bill.

Saudi Arabia had also pledged to grant Lebanon a $1 billion aid for the army.

The grants comes as the Lebanese army is battling gunmen and jihadists, including from the Islamic State group, in the north and along its northeastern border with war-torn Syria.

Geagea told his interviewer that the Mustaqbal Movement is in constant coordination with its allies in the March 14 alliance, in particular regarding the dialogue with Hizbullah.

He expressed belief that the differences between Hizbullah, which is a Shiites party, and al-Mustaqbal, which is a Sunni movement, isn't sectarian but “a dispute between two political agendas.”

H.K.

G.K.