The leader of the Kataëb, Samy Gemayel, at his party’s headquarters in Saifi, on May 20, 2024. Photo Mohammad Yassine/ L'Orient-Le Jour
“Hezbollah must be disarmed before parliamentary elections” to ensure a vote that is “free” and “transparent.” Those remarks by Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel raise serious questions about the real position of those opposing Hezbollah vis-a-vis elections scheduled for May. After long accusing Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri of seeking to delay the vote out of fear of the ballot box, that same camp now appears to be opening the door to a postponement, if not quietly hoping for one. Gemayel spoke out on the issue just after Adib Abdel Massih, an MP from Koura opposing Hezbollah, submitted on Monday a draft law seeking to extend the current Parliament’s term by one year. According to him, that period should be used to complete Hezbollah’s disarmament. “Everyone knows that in Lebanon, as long as Hezbollah keeps its weapons, parliamentary...
“Hezbollah must be disarmed before parliamentary elections” to ensure a vote that is “free” and “transparent.” Those remarks by Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel raise serious questions about the real position of those opposing Hezbollah vis-a-vis elections scheduled for May. After long accusing Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri of seeking to delay the vote out of fear of the ballot box, that same camp now appears to be opening the door to a postponement, if not quietly hoping for one. Gemayel spoke out on the issue just after Adib Abdel Massih, an MP from Koura opposing Hezbollah, submitted on Monday a draft law seeking to extend the current Parliament’s term by one year. According to him, that period should be used to complete Hezbollah’s disarmament. “Everyone knows that in Lebanon, as long as Hezbollah keeps its...
