Geagea holds press conference launching Lebanese Forces electoral campaign

BEIRUT — Samir Geagea said on Monday during the launch of the Lebanese Forces electoral campaign that “the nation and its identity are threatened, the institutions are frozen, the constitution is suspended, the people are miserable, hungry, displaced or waiting at the doors of embassies.”

Here’s what we know:

    • Reflecting on the Aug. 4, 2020, blast at the Beirut port, he said that “when Beirut explodes and they prevent us from knowing who did it, then the parliamentary elections become an existential battle, not only political, and therefore the Lebanese Forces are made for such battles.”

    • The Lebanese have three options in the elections, according to Geagea. Either to choose those who want the state but cannot build it, or those who do not want the state and are able to continue obstructing its construction, or those who want the state and can build it, adding that “this is us [the Lebanese Forces].”

    • “The first option falls under the slogan ‘all of them means all of them’ while the second option’s motto is ‘we rule Lebanon with weapons’ while the third option’s slogan is ‘come, let us all build a state’,” he said, referring to the above remarks.

    • “They repeated for 30 years that they work on reform and change [name of the Free Patriotic Movement bloc] and that they are the promised dream, they are the same ones who reached power, but I am sure that they do not want nor can they,” said LF leader, attacking the FPM.

    • “March 14 remains the kiss of our events, the holiness of our holiness and the pillar of our policies, and this day is still alive in us, even if they try to assassinate it on February 14 and bury it on May 7 to make sure that it dies,” he added.

    • March 14 was a prelude to Oct. 17, said Geagea and “now the Lebanese people have a big opportunity to make May 15, 2022, a second March 14, 2005, and a complement to Oct. 17, 2019, so do not miss this opportunity.”