Geagea rejects president coming from Western 'deal' with 'Axis of Defiance'

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Tuesday accused the Hezbollah-led “Axis of Defiance” in Lebanon of linking the Lebanese presidency and the new government to “ongoing negotiations” with Western forces over the military situation in south Lebanon.

“This matter is totally rejected, seeing as the presidency will not be a consolation prize for the Axis of Resistance and will not be part of any deal whatsoever,” Geagea said.

“The issue of the presidency in Lebanon is an independent subject that has nothing to do with any other deal. After all that has happened in Lebanon and what the Lebanese citizen is living, we desperately need a real president more than ever, whose concern would be to not to manage the affairs of the Axis of Resistance nor to serve it, but rather to organize the matters of the Lebanese republic and cater to the interests of the Lebanese people,” the LF leader added.

“Yes, more than ever, we need a reformist president who would implement the necessary reforms, so that our doors can be open to the global economy again and so that our economy can be revived,” Geagea went on to say.

He added: “We reject any dummy president who does not enjoy the required characteristics during this period and who would come as part of a regional settlement that is being currently discussed.”