Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, during a mass at Bkerkeh, on April 6, 2025. (Credit: NNA)
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai warned against any change to the political system in Lebanon and called on the different religious communities to "make concessions to the state, and not the other way around," during his Sunday sermon at Bkerkeh. "It is not demographics, but partnership that is the norm of the system in place in the country," he reminded, as Ja'farite Mufti Ahmad Kabalan was calling for "the updating of this system."
"At the national level, everyone is asking for the system to change in Lebanon, but the Lebanese do not agree on the definition of this system, nor on the timing of the launch of this project, which could be full of surprises [...] We live in a parliamentary democratic system, with a typical Islamic-Christian coexistence equation, and a national pact that supports this system [...] It is not demographics, but partnership that is the norm of this system," said the head of the Maronite Church.
"Some want to take control of the state and not reform the system [...] When this reform turns into usurpation of authority, it leads to civil war. Some among those calling for changes to the Constitution want to extend their power within the state and not improve it. What is being asked is that the religious communities make concessions to the state, and not the other way around, and that both parties take under their wing the citizens who want a secular state. The role of the citizen is nonexistent in Lebanon," he said.
The patriarch's remarks echo two draft laws presented in late March by MP Ali Hassan Khalil (Amal Movement), the right-hand man of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, which propose, among other things, that MPs no longer be elected on a confessional basis as is currently the case. These proposals have raised concerns about the representativeness of different sectarian groups, at a time when the Shiite community, from which Berri hails, is dominant demographically, according to some sources. "We want to finalize the implementation of the Taif Agreement and modernize the political system. This electoral reform is essential to move beyond confessionalism and build a state based on citizenship," Khalil had explained.
Kabalan calls for 'updating the system'
Ja'farite Mufti Ahmad Kabalan, for his part, called on Sunday to "update the system in Lebanon, in a way that serves the country and citizenship, as well as the historical partnership of different sects," without providing further details. "Citizenship as a political and electoral formula is a legal necessity and a national duty," he added in a statement published by the National News Agency (NNA).
Mufti Kabalan, who is known for his closeness to Hezbollah, also stated that "what is happening south of the Litani is dangerous," while criticizing "the prostration of the government." "Without government policy, there will be no administration. It seems that the government does not want to carry heavy burdens. Our role is to preserve national decisions and ensure that the government keeps its feet on the ground," he said.
"What is happening behind the scenes is serious and does not serve national interests. Some Lebanese remarks are worse than the most dangerous Zionist operation rooms [...] Some only care about their militias, drowning in blood and atrocities," the Mufti also stated.
"Some have paid the price and continue to pay for this dear country to survive, while others are now pushing to push them aside, which is equivalent to dismissing sovereignty [...] The most dangerous thing is that some insist on anchoring the new protectorate," he added, referring to discussions on Hezbollah's weapons and the visit this week of the US envoy Morgan Ortagus, Deputy Special Representative of President Donald Trump for Middle East Peace.
Ortagus held what were deemed positive meetings with Lebanese officials on Saturday. Her visit comes at a time of rising tensions in Lebanon and the Israeli state's apparent desire to eventually normalize relations with Beirut.
During a meeting on Friday between Ortagus and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, the discussions focused on the measures taken by the Lebanese Army to implement UN Resolution 1701 and the agreement on security arrangements related to the cessation of hostilities, in cooperation with the cease-fire monitoring committee, as well as the completion of the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
