
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Credit: Aldo Ayoub/Lebanese Forces)
BEIRUT – “Whoever votes for the Free Patriotic Movement votes for Hezbollah,” said head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea on Thursday, two months before the legislative elections set for May 15. Geagea also remarked that the FPM “serves the project” of Hezbollah.
Here’s what we know:
• In a press release, Geagea stated, “The fact that Hezbollah clearly admits that its battle during the next legislative elections is that of the success of its allies, namely the Free Patriotic Movement,” is an indicator that the “FPM serves Hezbollah and its project.”
• Geagea went on to issue a blanket criticism of his rival Christian party, the FPM, and the Shiite party for agreeing on “everything that prevents the recovery of the state, the regulation of institutions and the restoration of stability.”
• In January, Hezbollah's deputy secretary-general Naim Qassem said his party will stand with the FPM in May’s parliamentary elections. In 2018, the parties also allied for the legislative elections.
• A memorandum of understanding was signed between FPM and Hezbollah on Feb. 6 2006, establishing their alliance.
• The deadline for submitting nominations for the elections expired Tuesday at midnight with 1,043 nominations submitted, 77 more candidates than in the last elections in 2018.