Latest news with #KataebParty
MTV Lebanon
9 hours ago
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Gemayel, Abdel Massih call for clear disarmament timeline
Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel met with MP Adib Abdel Massih at the party's headquarters in Saifi to discuss recent political developments both at the local and regional levels, with a focus on critical national issues. Following the meeting, Abdel Massih described the Kataeb Party as 'a primary political ally,' emphasizing the importance of consulting with Gemayel amid pressing challenges, chief among them the disarmament of all armed groups and the anticipated visit of U.S. envoy Tom Barrack to Beirut. He stressed the 'need for the state, notably the government, to establish a clear timetable for disarmament,' expressing hope that 'the decision to disarm comes from Hezbollah before it is enforced by the Lebanese state.' Abdel Massih added that rallying behind state institutions would foster an environment conducive to leading Lebanon 'out of the dark tunnel toward stability and investment.' Highlighting regional contrasts, Abdel Massih outlined "the rapid government-led investments taking place in Syria," saying "Lebanon should be a land of investment, not wars; a land of future opportunities, not conflicts.' He called for an end to the ongoing divisions over the issue of non-state weapons, stressing that now is the time to resolve this matter and chart a new course for Lebanon. "We hope this begins with a promising summer and a thriving tourism season that restores hope and growth.' The lawmaker further pointed out that Hezbollah, as a member of the Lebanese government, is bound by the ministerial statement, which reflects the president's inaugural speech that calls for the state's exclusive control of arms. 'Therefore, Hezbollah has no alternative; it is the party that signed the ceasefire agreement with Israel and committed to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701,' he said. He concluded by emphasizing the legal, constitutional, and national necessity of disarmament. 'Weapons do not protect Lebanon; they are the root cause of crises and collapse, and they risk triggering sanctions. The European Union has placed Lebanon on its gray list and may soon move it to the blacklist. It is time to draw a red line and focus on building Lebanon's institutions and prosperity; this is something that can only happen by confining weapons to the legitimate authority of the state.'
MTV Lebanon
a day ago
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Gemayel says shiite diaspora vote seen as threat to political monopoly
Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel warned that efforts to block full voting rights for Lebanese expatriates are part of a broader political scheme aimed at suppressing dissenting voices within the Shiite community and preserving outdated power structures. Following a meeting with MP Mark Daou at the Kataeb Party's headquarters in Saifi, Gemayel issued sharp criticism of the latest legislative session, from which opposition lawmakers withdrew after Speaker Nabih Berri declined to add a proposed draft law on diaspora voting to the agenda. 'Our goal was never to disrupt the session,' Gemayel said. 'There were important items up for discussion, and we wanted to attend, debate, and vote on what matters. But the way the expatriate voting issue was being manipulated left us no choice but to walk out.' Gemayel said the campaign to restrict non-resident Lebanese from voting for all 128 parliamentary seats is being driven by fear of one specific group: Shiite expatriates. 'It is becoming increasingly clear that this fear stems from the belief that Shiite voters abroad would support the Lebanese state and the project of state-building,' he said. 'The attempt to cancel their vote is not about ensuring equality between Lebanese citizens, as some claim; it is about eliminating the impact of a Shiite voice abroad that could break the current monopoly and bring diversity into the Shiite community, just as we see in other sects.' Gemayel accused opponents of using misleading rhetoric to mask their intentions. 'All the slogans raised by the other side are smokescreens to hide the truth. This only makes us more determined to ensure that expatriates can vote for the full parliamentary seats, across all districts,' he said. 'Their votes are key to liberating and rebuilding this country, and ushering in a new era of peace, openness, prosperity, reform, and modernization.' Echoing Gemayel's concerns, MP Mark Daou said his visit to the Kataeb headquarters was part of ongoing coordination with political allies on the growing crisis in Parliament and the battle for diaspora voting rights. 'I came to discuss the developments in Parliament, especially the right of over 1.5 million Lebanese expatriates to vote,' Daou said. 'More than half the chamber is committed to this right and has signed a petition that will be formally submitted to the Speaker and the Bureau of Parliament.' Daou blamed the recent legislative deadlocks on what he called a 'sweeping commitment among MPs to ensure that the diaspora is treated fairly and allowed to vote based on their home districts for all 128 lawmakers, just like residents.' 'We coordinated on how to escalate pressure, activate Parliament's internal rules, and push to place the urgent diaspora voting bill on the legislative agenda,' Daou said. 'We want it to be put to a vote and passed, as demanded by a clear majority of the Lebanese people.' Daou described the push for diaspora voting as a "decisive battle" that could reshape Lebanon's political future. 'This fight will define political participation for all Lebanese. It will also determine the real balance of power on which we can begin building a new post-conflict Lebanon—one that reopens to the world, protects its sovereignty, and gives citizens the hope of meaningful change,' he said. 'This opportunity cannot be wasted due to the obstruction of parties that remain trapped in the past,' he warned. Daou stressed that the battle is not limited to the electoral law. 'The issues of exclusive state control over weapons, full political participation, and judicial independence are core to the Lebanon we want to build,' he said. 'These are essential fights for entering a new phase in Lebanon's future.'
LBCI
2 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Parliamentary session: Diaspora seats fuel political divide as Lebanese parliament pushes through agenda
Report by Maroun Nassif, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi After an hour and a half of tense political discussions, Lebanese MPs opposing the allocation of six parliamentary seats to expatriates failed to disrupt a legislative session aimed at addressing multiple pending laws. Members of the Lebanese Forces, the Kataeb Party, several Change MPs, and independents staged a walkout from the parliamentary hall in an attempt to obstruct the quorum. However, the session continued with 68 MPs in attendance, securing the required quorum. The session remained valid due to the presence of MPs from the Amal-Hezbollah duo and their allies, as well as MPs from the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), the Moderate Bloc, and the Tashnag Party. Despite their support for abolishing the six diaspora seats and having signed a draft amendment to the electoral law, MPs from the PSP, the Moderate Bloc, and Tashnag chose to attend, citing their refusal to obstruct state institutions. At the start of the session, before the walkout, MPs Paula Yacoubian, Georges Adwan, and Michel Moawad attempted to convince Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to add the draft electoral law amendment to the agenda under an "accelerated and repeated" procedure. Berri rejected the request, noting that he has never fast-tracked such proposals when similar drafts are already under review by parliamentary committees. He suggested instead that the subcommittee meet weekly to expedite discussions and approval. In response, MPs Kabalan Kabalan and Ali Fayad reminded the chamber that, according to the constitution, changes to the electoral law require a two-thirds majority in the Cabinet, questioning the attempt to push through amendments under an expedited process. Meanwhile, FPM leader MP Gebran Bassil denounced the push to amend expatriate voting as an attempt to "hijack or eliminate" the six diaspora seats. Despite the political standoff, the parliamentary session proceeded and approved several key items on the agenda, including additional funding for the Judges' Mutual Fund, financial allocations for Lebanese University professors, a law exempting victims of Israeli attacks from certain taxes and fees, and legislation canceling some fee increases from the 2015 budget.
LBCI
2 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Lebanese Parliament holds session despite walkouts by major blocs
The Lebanese Parliament held a legislative session on Monday, maintaining quorum despite the withdrawal of several blocs, including the Lebanese Forces, Kataeb Party, and some opposition and independent MPs. Nine items were listed for discussion. According to an LBCI correspondent, the chamber initially had 68 MPs present—enough to secure quorum. A short while later, a number of opposition MPs returned to the session, bringing the total number of lawmakers in attendance to 77.
LBCI
04-06-2025
- General
- LBCI
Zouk Mikael Mayor Elias Beaino elected head of Keserwan-Ftouh Municipal Union
Zouk Mikael Mayor Elias Beaino, backed by the Lebanese Forces, Kataeb Party, and MPs Neemat Frem and Farid Haykal El Khazen, has been elected president of the Keserwan-Ftouh Municipal Union.
