Report: LF Defends Right to Claim Defense and Interior Portfolios

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea will begin political contacts as soon as he returns to the country from a trip abroad, to follow up on the political mobility that spiked lately in an attempt to reach consensus on a head of state, as LF sources defend the party's right to claim ministerial portfolio including the defense and interior, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Commenting on speculations that some refuse to assign the defense and interior ministries to the Lebanese Forces, an LF source said: “We will not accept this exclusion, because the LF is an essential component and has the right like all other political parties to handle any of the ministries without any veto.”

“Why do they have a problem with the Lebanese Forces in particular, and why are they afraid that we claim the ministries of defense and interior?” the source went on and asked.

“Does the Lebanese Forces have an armed organization? Or is it because we refuse armed organizations? This logic is totally unacceptable. The LF believes in the (state) institutions mainly in the defense and interior,” added the source on condition of anonymity.

Moreover, Change and Reform bloc sources defended the LF's right in that regard, they said: “the LF can claim any ministry they wish to. This is determined during the formation of the government when the portfolios are distributed.”