Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel described 2026 as a pivotal year for Lebanon, saying it will confirm the party’s vision of a free and independent state and stressing that resolving the issue of illegal weapons is the final step toward national stability and economic recovery.

Speaking at a gathering organized by the Kataeb Women’s Affairs Office in Metn, Gemayel addressed party members, praising their decades of dedication and describing them as “the heartbeat of the party.”

Gemayel said the Kataeb has consistently told the public difficult truths, from warnings about financial collapse to critiques of the country’s political course; positions that were initially dismissed but later proved accurate. He highlighted the party’s long-standing opposition to regional interference in Lebanon, citing Arab nationalism, the Palestinian cause, Syrian domination, and more recently Iranian influence and Hezbollah as factors that have driven successive national crises.

Looking ahead to 2026, Gemayel said the year will reaffirm the party’s vision for a sovereign and independent Lebanon; a vision now shared by the presidency, the government, and the international community. He pointed to decentralization, sovereignty, and the establishment of a functioning state as core national priorities, and described the elimination of illegal weapons as the final obstacle to stability. Achieving this, he said, would pave the way for investment, job creation, and economic growth, particularly for young Lebanese living abroad.

Gemayel also noted that Lebanon and the broader region are entering a period of profound transformation, with Arab countries increasingly focused on development, openness, and stability. He said Lebanon must be at the center of this shift, not on its margins. He added that the party’s strength has never been measured by the number of parliamentary seats it holds, but by the impact of its positions and its steadfast commitment to national principles.

Gemayel concluded by reaffirming that the Kataeb will remain the party of the state and its institutions, of sovereignty and ethics, and will continue to serve as a national conscience; a role it has upheld since its founding in 1936.