LF's Geagea unveils main points of policy platform

BEIRUT — Lebanese Forces head Samir Geagea Wednesday unveiled the main points of his party's electoral program for the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for May 15, which are mostly focused on Hezbollah and its possession of weapons independent of the government.

Here’s what we know:

    • According to the state-run National News Agency, Geagea said that under his plan, “the monopoly on weapons would be in the hands of the state, international decisions would be applied, [and Lebanon] would stay away from [external] conflicts.” Geagea was quoted by “Fundamental problems that have plagued the country for 30 years are articulated in two points: The domination of Hezbollah on the political, security and strategic decision of the state , and the power of a corrupt system in all its aspects,” Geagea continued.

    • On Monday, the head of the Lebanese Forces accused rival Christian party the Free Patriotic Movement, which is allied with Hezbollah, of wanting to "prolong the tragedy and the suffering of the Lebanese,” by seeking to elect its leader Gebran Bassil as Lebanese President. With President Michel Aoun’s term ending in November, the most discussed candidates for the presidency are Bassil and the head of the Marada Movement, Sleiman Frangieh.