Bassil calls on Christians to confront ‘status quo’ within constitutional limits

Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Gebran Bassil has called on all Lebanese, and Christians in particular, to confront the current political situation "within the constitution and laws," warning that the situation can no longer endure further delay.

"The situation can no longer tolerate waiting, and action has become inevitable," Bassil said.

He also revealed that several months ago, during the Bkirki document meetings, the FPM presented a written work plan titled Resilience and Partnership. "In it, we proposed a confrontation plan with practical and field measures to break the prevailing status quo. The plan includes media, political, parliamentary, judicial, popular, and economic steps, targeting both the public and private sectors, as well as actions involving the church and laypeople. It even extends to the possibility of a comprehensive civil and popular escalation through a complete boycott if there is no response," he explained.

Bassil emphasized the urgency of the situation, citing the ongoing presidential vacuum, a government that he described as "abusing its non-consensual and illegitimate status," a collapsing economy, and increasing emigration.

"Today, with the continued stagnation, the lack of a president, a government abusing its lack of consensus and legitimacy, an economy collapsing and a people migrating, and with the growing risk of open war — without blaming the past — let us move towards confrontation within the constitution and laws, and most importantly, out of a duty to protect our existence, as the dangers threaten our existence and that of Lebanon," Bassil concluded.

Contacted by L'Orient-Le Jour, an FPM source said that Gebran Bassil had made this appeal to Christians, "urging them to unite at a time when the drums of war are in full swing." "He fears that Christians will pay the price of an agreement that excludes them because of their differences," he added.

South Lebanon has been in a state of war since October as Hezbollah and Israel exchange attacks daily. Against the backdrop, some some fear that a cease-fire agreement with Hezbollah would give the party more leverage over foreign policy in Lebanese politics. Hezbollah has said that it will stop it attacks when the war on Gaza stops.