Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in an interview with LBCI, on July 12, 2023. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused Hezbollah and its ally Amal of blocking the presidential election, and rejected the party's calls for dialogue, in an interview broadcast on LBCI Wednesday evening.
"The moumanaa [pro-Iranian] group wants to block the electoral process, while the West is unconvinced about the importance of dialogue. As far as we are concerned, we refuse to bend and we ask to work according to the constitution," Geagea said.
Hezbollah, which supports the candidacy of Marada Movement head Sleiman Frangieh, is calling for dialogue to break the eight-month deadlock in the presidential election while refusing to discuss any candidacies other than those of the Zgharta leader.
Opponents of Hezbollah meanwhile support the candidacy of former minister Jihad Azour and refuse to hold talks with the pro-Iranian party.
On June 14, the 12th parliamentary session devoted to the presidential election was unsuccessful, with Azour receiving 59 votes against Frangieh's 51.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has not set a date for the next meeting.
"What is the dialogue some are calling for? Hezbollah is luring everyone, we could have had our candidate elected" during the last parliamentary session, said Geagea in Wednesday's TV interview.
"The signs show that [Hezbollah and Amal] don't want to elect a president. If the moumanaa group had not withdrawn from the [first round of voting on June 14], Jihad Azour would have obtained at least 10 more votes in the second round," he added. Geagea also called for "successive rounds of voting to elect a president."
The LF leader reaffirmed his support for Azour's candidacy.
"In the event of a new session being organized, he will again obtain 59 votes and could be elected in the second round. I cannot guarantee that [Free Patriotic Movement leader] Gebran Bassil will remain on our side, but circumstances have forced him" to support Azour's candidacy, he said.
Geagea also revealed that the French special envoy for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, "tried to propose a third name, but we advise him not to bother calling for dialogue again."
He added he was "ready to work together to find a new candidate, if this option is ever considered, provided they are a sovereignist."