Kataeb reaffirms commitment to sovereignty, says time's up for illegal arms and parallel authority

MTV Lebanon

5 days ago

The Kataeb's Political Bureau held its weekly meeting under the chairmanship of the party's Vice President, Dr. Bernard Gerbaka. Following discussions on the recent electoral process and the developments surrounding it, the Bureau issued the following statement:
1. As the final phase of Lebanon's municipal and local elections concluded, the Kataeb Party extends its congratulations to all those who contributed to the successful execution of this democratic milestone. While serious violations were observed, they do not undermine or invalidate the overall success of the elections.
The party especially thanks the Ministries of Interior and Justice, along with the judiciary, public officials, and staff who ensured the smooth conduct of the elections and safeguarded their integrity at polling stations.
The Kataeb Party also congratulates all elected candidates, particularly the individuals and electoral lists it supported across various regions. These candidates achieved noteworthy results and secured a strong presence across multiple districts. A detailed review of these outcomes and their broader implications will be shared soon.
Reaffirming its commitment to national principles, the Kataeb Political Bureau emphasized that the party will remain steadfast on its path of transparency and integrity. It firmly believes that the Lebanese people deserve better governance, and that meaningful, principled political engagement remains the only viable path to rescuing the country from its compounding crises.
2. The Political Bureau categorically rejects the recent comments made by MP Mohammad Raad, head of Hezbollah's 'Loyalty to the Resistance' parliamentary bloc, in response to a speech by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The party views Raad's remarks as evasive and misleading, asserting that such rhetoric only serves to obscure the core issue and delay urgently needed solutions.
The Bureau warned that this continued deflection does nothing but prolong Lebanon's status as a hostage to power dynamics enforced by armed coercion.
The suggestion that Hezbollah is in a position to dictate terms to the state is completely unacceptable. This issue is not up for discussion or negotiation. Now more than ever, the issue of illegal arms has become a top national priority that must be addressed without further delay or maneuvering. Ending all forms of unlawful weaponry is now imperative for preserving state sovereignty and restoring its full authority.