Lebanese Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel has called for the protection and productive use of municipal communal lands, describing them as a vital source of local wealth and a cornerstone of efforts to strengthen municipalities, curb migration and advance decentralization in Lebanon.

“These lands are not abandoned or unclaimed. They belong to our people and our villages, and we must find ways to put them to productive use,” Gemayel said at a conference organized by the Kataeb Party and Konrad Adenauer Foundation under the title “Municipal communal lands: Protecting Rights and Exploring Investment Opportunities.”

The conference brought together stakeholders to examine the political, legal and historical dimensions of municipal communal lands and explore opportunities to develop them through investment projects in partnership with the private sector.

In his opening remarks, Gemayel described the issue as fundamental to Lebanon’s future, particularly in Mount Lebanon, where communal lands are closely tied to the identity and heritage of local villages.

“These lands belong collectively to the people of our villages. They are part of our heritage, our identity and the way we have lived in this country for generations. They cannot simply be taken away or altered at will,” he said.

Gemayel pointed to a legal challenge filed by MP Elias Hankash and the Municipality of Roumieh before the State Council, Lebanon’s administrative court, after an attempt to change the ownership status of the communal lands.

The challenge sought to halt a move that would have transferred ownership of the lands to the state. The State Council subsequently suspended the implementation of the decision pending a final ruling.

“We managed to stop the decision, and we are now waiting for the final judgment after securing a precautionary suspension,” Gemayel said.

He added that the party hoped the ministerial decision would ultimately be overturned, stressing that the legal challenge was intended to prevent the appropriation of land that communities consider their own.

“We want to put an end to any attempt to take these lands away from the people who own them collectively. At the same time, we need to start thinking together about how to make the most of them and turn them into an asset for our villages,” he said.

Turning communal land into an engine of local development

Gemayel said the conference was intended to give mayors practical ideas for developing municipal communal lands and help them establish partnerships with private-sector companies capable of turning underused assets into sources of revenue and economic activity.

He described the lands as a largely untapped resource that could help municipalities finance local development projects and improve residents’ quality of life.

Potential initiatives include renewable energy projects, more effective waste management, and tourism, environmental and cultural ventures designed to attract visitors and generate income for local communities.

“The wealth represented by these lands is significant, and we have a responsibility to protect it,” Gemayel said. “We need to find ways to invest in these assets so they can generate additional revenue for municipalities, support development and improve people’s lives. That is precisely what this conference is about.”

He said the Kataeb Party was ready to help municipalities turn proposals into concrete projects that would strengthen local communities and make it easier for residents to remain on their land.

“We are here to help bring projects to life, strengthen our communities and give people a better reason to stay in their villages by creating opportunities for development and improving their incomes,” he said.

Curbing migration by investing in villages

Gemayel also linked local development to Lebanon’s long-standing migration problem, distinguishing between internal migration from villages to coastal areas and emigration abroad.

He argued that addressing the factors driving people away from their villages could help stem both forms of migration.

“Migration happens in two stages: people first leave their villages for the coast, and then many leave the country altogether. If we can stop that first wave, we can also help prevent the next,” he said.

“Getting development right in our villages can make a real difference.”

Gemayel said modern technology had transformed the world into a much smaller place, making it possible for rural communities to compete for investment and economic opportunities that were once concentrated in major urban centers.

With the right infrastructure, he said, villages could attract international companies, create jobs and offer young people viable alternatives to leaving their communities.

“Today, technology has made the world feel like one small village. If we equip our villages with the infrastructure they need, they can keep pace with the modern world and even become home to international companies,” he said.

“Improving people’s quality of life can turn our villages into places where young people can build their futures and choose to stay.”

Decentralization at the heart of Lebanon’s future

Gemayel said decentralization was essential to building a stronger Lebanon, arguing that empowered municipalities and better management of communal assets could lay the groundwork for a more effective model of local governance and development.

Strengthening municipal institutions, protecting communal lands and developing their economic potential should be the first steps toward expanding decentralization beyond individual municipalities to entire regions, he said.

“Decentralization is the starting point for building Lebanon,” Gemayel said. “Strengthening our municipalities, protecting our communal lands and developing them are the first steps toward making decentralization a reality and taking it to a new level, across entire regions.”

He described the approach as central to the Kataeb Party’s political vision and its plans for Lebanon’s future.

Gemayel also emphasized the party’s efforts to advance decentralization through legislation, saying it had submitted a draft law in 2015 and completed roughly 85% of the work before political obstacles stalled the process.

The relevant parliamentary subcommittee subsequently stopped working before completing the remaining provisions, despite the progress already made, he said.

“Legislatively, we need just two more months of work to finalize the draft and make it ready for a vote,” Gemayel said. “The real issue is whether there is the political will to move forward.”

Until the legislative process resumes, he said, protecting municipalities and their communal lands must remain a priority.

“In the meantime, we have to make sure our municipalities and their communal lands are protected,” he said.