Report: Gemayel to Step Down from Kataeb Leadership in Favor of Son

by Naharnet Newsdesk 03 February 2015, 08:39

Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel is expected to hand over the party's leadership post to his son MP Sami Gemayel in the summer, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The daily said Gemayel the father will make the announcement during the party's conference, which Kataeb is compelled to hold every four years in accordance to its by-laws.

The young lawmaker is widely influential inside the party, al-Akhbar said.

But he is known to make fiery speeches and statements. The newspaper quoted him as saying on Saturday that all those fighting in support of the Syrian regime should be stripped of their Lebanese nationality.

The MP has allegedly criticized Hizbullah's unilateral decision of war and peace and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's latest stances.

Hizbullah has sent its members to Syria to help President Bashar Assad against rebels seeking to topple him.

Some Kataeb politburo members denied the remarks made by the MP while others said they only represent his viewpoint, al-Akhbar said.

Gemayel the father disagrees with his son over fears that his criticism would have a negative impact on the rapprochement between the Kataeb and Hizbullah, it added.

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