Geagea Stresses 'Firmness' of LF-FPM Ties, Says Not Interfering in Energy Minister's Work

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Thursday stressed the “firmness” of the rising alliance between the LF and the Free Patriotic Movement while noting that his party is not seeking to “interfere in the work of the energy minister.”

“The relation and understanding between the FPM and the LF are as unwavering and firm as me and General (President Michel) Aoun,” Geagea reassured during a Maarab seminar on development in the Keserwan region, dismissing media reports suggesting that the LF-FPM ties have been strained by the electricity file.

Geagea noted that even the most remote African communities enjoy uninterrupted power supply.

“During our study of the state budget, we discovered an item about a major deficit next year in the electricity sector, and we would spare the State at least $1.2 billion in losses in the electricity sector should we rectify a certain item in the state budget,” the LF leader said.

“Accordingly, we realized that rectifying the issue of electricity is important for rectifying the state budget and we were not interfering in the work of the energy minister,” Geagea explained, referring to recent remarks by Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil in this regard.

“If Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil has any suggestions regarding the health, social affairs and information ministries, we are ready to listen,” Geagea added humorously, responding to Abi Khalil's remarks.

In an apparent jab at the LF, which holds the health portfolio in the government, Abi Khalil had announced sarcastically on Wednesday that he is “preparing a health plan.”

Geagea said Thursday that “the FPM ministers have good intentions towards resolving the electricity crisis, but the problem is in the structure of the Lebanese administration and the in the work of the Lebanese government.”

He called on the government to ask the energy minister to “prepare a booklet of conditions for organizing a call for tenders for the electricity sector in Lebanon within a deadline of three months at the latest,” noting that “a law issued in 2014 allows the Energy Ministry to giver power production contracts to the private sector.”

“When we first launched our proposal regarding the electricity sector, we (and the FPM) had different viewpoints on how to approach the issue, but the differences have started to narrow and to those trying to sow discord between us I say that they will not succeed,” Geagea added.