Naharnet

Geagea 'flexible' but not with Berri's dialogue or Hezbollah's war

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea insists on boycotting a presidential dialogue initiated by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, as Lebanon remains without a president since Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022, almost two years ago.

"I am flexible," Geagea said in a radio interview on Thursday night. "But I cannot be flexible about Hezbollah's decision to start a war in south Lebanon," he added, as he dubbed Berri's dialogue anew "unconstitutional".

Geagea said the so-called Axis of Defiance plans to control Lebanon. "As long as it is unable to do it militarily, it will try at all costs to control it politically by electing a president of its choice."

Geagea said he will not describe Hezbollah as a terrorist organization as he hopes to "attract" the group to the Lebanese framework. "The only way to meet with Hezbollah, is when it becomes a Lebanese party with a Lebanese agenda only," Geagea said, adding that ties with Hezbollah cannot be completely cut.

He also said he has a good relation with Hezbollah's ally, Berri, but that he finds the way Berri is dealing with the presidential vote "unacceptable".

On another note, Geagea said that he thinks the Free Patriotic Movement's disintegration is "in Lebanon's interest", after two MPs were expelled from the FPM and two others deliberately resigned.

Source: Naharnet


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