Geagea: New President is Solution to All Crises, Only Army Can Defend Country

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea noted Tuesday that the election of a new president would resolve the country's growing political crisis, as he stressed that only the army should be entrusted with defending the country.

“If the obstruction of the presidential election is causing governmental crises, then the solution is not further obstruction but rather the immediate election of a president who would restore the regularity of the work of the government, the parliament and the rest of institutions,” said Geagea at an LF ceremony in Maarab.

“They speak of a strong president while they are impeding the presidential vote, which leaves us without a presidency or a president -- neither a strong one, nor moderate, nor weak,” Geagea added.

He slammed the rival camp for turning the state into a “weak state” and for pushing citizens to a “state of instability at the political, security, economic and social levels.”

The cabinet has been paralyzed since early June when Prime Minister Tammam Salam suspended the sessions over a dispute on the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials.

The parliament has also been paralyzed over a dispute between the rival MPs on the presidential elections.

Their rivalry has left Baabda Palace vacant since the expiry of President Michel Suleiman's term in May last year.

Turning to the security and military affairs, Geagea accused Hizbullah without naming it of “manipulating the country's borders in a manner that suits its regional policies.”

“We did not create a national Lebanese army comprising tens of thousands of soldiers to allow armed groups and brigades to be in charge of protecting us,” the LF leader said.

“The Lebanese army is our only fortress for defending the country,” he added.

Y.R.