The leader of the Kataeb, Samy Gemayel, during the 32nd general congress of his party. (Credit: Yara Abi Akl)
The leader of the Kataeb party, Samy Gemayel, on Friday threatened to "paralyze" the Lebanese presidential election if Hezbollah's candidate plans to "protect the weapons" of the Shiite party.
Gemayel made his comments during an address to Kataeb's 32nd general congress. Many figures from different political camps were invited.
"I tell you right now, we will paralyze the [presidential] election if your candidate wants to protect Hezbollah's weapons," Gemayel said.
Lebanon has been without a president since Oct. 31, when the mandate of Michel Aoun— an ally of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah — came to an end. The country has also been governed by a caretaker cabinet since May 2022, while 11 parliamentary sessions have failed to elect a president.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has repeatedly called for a president "who does not stab 'the Resistance' in the back."
"We can no longer deal with this dictatorship and we refuse to be subject to the goodwill of Hezbollah," Gemayel said.
In mid-January, the leader of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea — Hezbollah's main Christian opponent — pledged to block the path of any candidate close to Hezbollah, and had ruled out any possibility of an agreement with the Free Patriotic Movement, Hezbollah's Christian ally.