Geagea Demands Presidential Vote, Deems Dialogue with Shiite Duo Futile

Samir Geagea, the leader of the Lebanese Forces, has expressed his longstanding resistance to the idea of electing a president through dialogue, stating that such discussions have consistently failed to produce results. In an interview with MTV on Monday night, Geagea disclosed that although members of his party have engaged in conversations with MPs from the Amal party, these dialogues have been unproductive. He accused Hezbollah and its allies of stubbornly supporting their preferred presidential candidate, Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh, and doubted the authenticity of any dialogue under these conditions.

Geagea emphasized the importance of electing a president through voting rather than through consensus, questioning the purpose of a vote if a consensus is sought instead. He argued that a president could have already been elected in a second or third voting round without the need for political consensus.

This stance contrasts with that of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who on Sunday highlighted the support of the five-nation group for Lebanon for both “consensus” and “consultations.” Berri acknowledged that boycotting sessions is a constitutional right, while also emphasizing the necessity of a quorum of 86 to elect a president, thereby making consensus essential prior to any voting session.

Geagea commented on the apparent loss of hope among the quintet, noting their inclination towards considering a third candidate for the presidency.