Watan-Despite the heavy fog surrounding the headquarters of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in early July, his political clarity was unmistakable—especially on the two pressing issues: Hezbollah’s weapons and the diaspora vote. In a media meeting attended by Al-Quds Al-Arabi, Geagea launched a sharp critique of Hezbollah’s arms, calling them unconstitutional and the main reason behind Lebanon’s economic and state collapse.
According to Geagea, Hezbollah’s weapons were never legitimized by the 1989 Taif Agreement and directly violate Lebanon’s constitution and national unity. “This arsenal monopolizes strategic decisions and led Hezbollah to ally with the most corrupt forces just to protect its arms,” he said. As a result, Lebanon has shifted from being the “Switzerland of the East” to a hub for smuggling and captagon, with ungoverned borders.
Geagea dismissed the outrage over the American proposal delivered by envoy Tom Barrack, which calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament. He argued, “Before it is an American demand, it is a Lebanese one. Who inside Lebanon accepts this weapon?” He added that Hezbollah’s weapons have invited Israeli attacks and dismantled Lebanon’s sovereignty.
No State Without Disarmament
He recalled being imprisoned in 1994 for raising the issue of Hezbollah’s arms, highlighting how deeply Syria’s regime protected the party back then. He stated bluntly: “There will be no real state unless Hezbollah gives up its weapons, from Jouya to Ain al-Remmaneh, and from Samir Kassir to Lokman Slim.”
Addressing Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, who often pledges patience and resistance against Israel, Geagea said: “Stop pretending. Your weapons are not creating balance; they’re provoking attacks.”
General Joseph Aoun
He mocked statements by Hezbollah MP Ali Fayyad, who argued that disarmament under the ceasefire agreement starts “from south of the Litani River”—while Israel continues to strike rocket depots freely.
Discussion With President Joseph Aoun
Geagea revealed that President Joseph Aoun seemed unwilling to stir internal tensions but was open to presenting the U.S. proposal to the Cabinet. “I still trust the president—he thinks like us,” Geagea said. But he stressed the need for resolve: “We won’t reach a real state without determination.”
He warned that five months of talks have yielded nothing and likely won’t in the next five either. Negotiations are now occurring between Aoun and PM-designate Nawaf Salam on one side, and Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah on the other—a format Geagea rejects as “not a real state.”
On Palestinian Arms
Geagea also referenced Palestinian weapons, saying that after a clear statement by President Mahmoud Abbas, the Lebanese state requested disarmament in the camps. “Aren’t the camps on Lebanese soil? Are they in Australia?” he asked rhetorically.
He rejected claims that the Lebanese army lacks capacity, noting how it effectively deployed on the Syrian border during prior threats, but now ignores domestic lawlessness.
When asked whether Hezbollah might use its arms internally, Geagea said: “I believe they can’t—neither inside nor out. They only use the threat for leverage. Lebanese leaders shouldn’t act like appeasers.”
On Diaspora Voting
On the issue of Lebanese expatriate voting rights, Geagea discussed the battle to end the outdated 1960 electoral law. After Michel Aoun’s election, a deal was struck with the “Strong Lebanon Bloc” (which then included 30 MPs) to pass the current law.
However, when Gebran Bassil feared losing diaspora votes, he proposed allocating only six parliamentary seats for expatriates. “That was the fatal compromise in 2017—we either accepted it or lost the whole law,” said Geagea.
He now wants that provision fixed: “Expatriates must vote for the full 128 MPs. What’s the point of giving them six seats and keeping them outside Lebanon’s political impact?”
He proposed that the government conduct a formal poll or international survey to learn what the diaspora wants. “Bassil’s logic—128 seats plus 6 more—is nonsense,” he said.
Hezbollah
On Parliamentary Session Management
Geagea harshly criticized Speaker Berri’s parliamentary session management, calling it “deceptive.” He accused Berri of pushing 20 fast-tracked laws without proper debate while blocking the amendment of Article 112, which restricts diaspora voting.
He emphasized that the amendment has already been signed by 67 MPs and backed by 62 in a formal petition: “This must be binding. Parliament is sovereign and shouldn’t act like Bashar al-Assad and Rustum Ghazaleh are still around.”
When asked if this confrontation might prompt the Shiite duo (Hezbollah and Amal) to cancel elections, Geagea was firm: “They can’t. Who would extend parliament’s term? That’s a huge move.”
Final Word: No Fear of Government Collapse
Geagea concluded by rejecting threats from the Shiite bloc to leave the government if exclusive weapons control is enforced. “Let them withdraw,” he said. As for pulling his own ministers out, he replied: “Don’t worry, we’ll do it when it no longer benefits Lebanon. But for now, we’re more useful inside.”