Geagea Defends Suleiman against Hizbullah's Attempts to 'Undermine' the State
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea defended President Michel Suleiman against Hizbullah's harsh rhetoric, saying the Lebanese are fed up with the party's practices, which contradict the authorities of the state institutions.
Geagea told al-Mustaqbal newspaper published on Monday that Suleiman “said what he had to say last Friday on our behalf.”
His remarks “reflect the viewpoint of the majority of the Lebanese who are fed up with Hizbullah's behavior and practices at the strategic, military, security, political and media levels,” the LF chief said.
“I salute him,” he added.
The tension between Suleiman and Hizbullah reached unprecedented levels over the weekend when the president said Lebanese parties should not hold onto inflexible equations that hinder the adoption of the new government's policy statement.
His remark at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik drew a sharp retort from Hizbullah, which said the president needed “specialized care.”
Their dispute lies on the deadlock reached by the members of the committee tasked with drafting the policy statement on whether to include a clause on the resistance in the blueprint.
Geagea reiterated in his interview with al-Mustaqbal that Hizbullah considers the supreme leader of Iran as the head of the Lebanese state.
It believes that “our situation in Lebanon should be a copycat of Iran,” he said about the Shiite party.
“Hizbullah considered the president's move as a rebellion, that's why it had to make the crucial remarks against him,” he said.
Hizbullah does not recognize the legitimate Lebanese institutions and seeks to "undermine them when they try to practice their authorities," he added.
Asked whether a mysterious drone was still flying over his residence in Maarab, Geagea said: “The drone comes as part of practices that prevent free voices in this country.”
He did not confirm whether it was shut down as promised by LF MP Antoine Zahra.
Geagea said last month that he contacted Suleiman, Premier Tammam Salam, ex-Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji over the issue.
“We received guarantees that the appropriate measures have been taken to prevent it from flying over Maarab,” he said.
Zahra also said that the drone would not be allowed to fly over Maarab, because it would be shot down by Geagea's guards.
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