The opposition MPs will officially endorse Army Commander-in-Chief General Joseph Aoun in Thursday's presidential election.
Following a meeting with the head of the Lebanese Forces, the opposition explained that, before deciding to back General Aoun, they had shifted their support from presidential candidate Michel Moawad to Jihad Azour. However, obstruction had prevented the election from moving forward.
They called for unity in electing General Aoun and stressed the need to limit weapons to the state, implement international resolutions, and carry out necessary reforms. They also emphasized that the state must protect the country, not any armed group—an implicit reference to Hezbollah.
Kataeb Party leader Sami Gemayel expressed cautious optimism on Wednesday evening, hoping for a swift and smooth election, though he remained wary about the outcome of the session.
“We hope the election of General Aoun will succeed tomorrow. However, nothing is guaranteed. This choice reflects the urgent need to rebuild the state and restore strong relations with the Gulf countries,” he stated on a local TV channel.
Gemayel also reiterated that the opposition follows a sovereignty-first approach, advocating for limiting weapons to the hands of the state and implementing international resolutions.
“We are still under a form of tutelage, and Lebanon’s sovereignty remains under threat,” he said. “It’s time to fully restore the authority of the state.”
Salim Al-Sayegh, a member of the Kataeb Party, added on MTV's Sar El Waet program, “General Aoun has one key virtue: he does not compromise or share power. He accepts nothing less than a full commitment to international legitimacy and the necessary reforms.”
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