Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel accused Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri of abusing his powers to serve partisan interests and obstructing legislative progress, warning that Lebanon’s political paralysis and Hezbollah’s actions are pushing the country toward greater instability.

Speaking in an interview on Al-Jadeed, Gemayel questioned whether Berri is “acting according to his personal convictions or in his capacity as Speaker,” arguing that the veteran parliament chief “uses his powers to advance his own political agenda, which is unacceptable.”

“The Speaker of Parliament is supposed to put the government’s draft law on the agenda,” Gemayel said. “But he refuses to do so. It is not because of any procedural problem, but simply because he does not want to. He’s using his powers to serve his political team’s interests.”

Gemayel warned that continued delays could jeopardize the upcoming elections.

“The more time passes, the fewer people will be registered, and the law will pass with limited participation,” he said.

He urged Lebanese expatriates to register to vote as soon as possible, expressing concern over “low registration turnout due to uncertainty among expats.”

Turning to national security, Gemayel said recent years have proven that Hezbollah’s armed strategy has failed to protect Lebanon.

“Hezbollah’s entire concept has been a catastrophic failure,” he said. “It has brought destruction and suffering to both its supporters and its opponents. Our mission is to protect everyone, even those who don’t want our protection.”

He argued that Lebanon must choose diplomacy over armed confrontation and called for direct negotiations with Israel to stop cross-border violence.

“Direct talks yield better results,” Gemayel said. “No mediator will defend our rights as well as we can if we sit face-to-face with our adversary.”

Gemayel stressed that his main concern is “protecting the people of my country,” adding that “the goal is to stop the exchange of fire between Lebanon and Israel so that residents of the South can live in peace.”

“It’s time for new generations not to endure what the current ones have suffered,” he said. “And I believe that can only happen under international sponsorship.”

Gemayel renewed his criticism of Hezbollah’s dominance and its allegiance to Iran, accusing the group of putting Tehran’s regional interests ahead of Lebanon’s.

“Sadly, Hezbollah seems forbidden from considering Lebanon’s interests—or even the interests of the Shiite community,” he said. “It remains nothing more than a card in Iran’s defensive strategy, unable to think for itself or for its people.”

He added that Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm and work with the Lebanese state “gives Israel an excuse to keep attacking,” warning that “the international community didn’t stop Israel in Gaza, and the only thing we can do is stop giving them excuses.”

“Hezbollah won’t back down. It continues with the same mindset, rejecting a ceasefire and refusing to hand over its weapons,” Gemayel said. “Each side blames the other, but it’s the country, and the people of the South, who pay the price. Neither Israel, Hezbollah, nor Iran cares about Lebanon.”

Gemayel called for a firm national decision to eliminate “any militia operating outside state authority” and urged cooperation “with the United States and anyone willing to help Lebanon find a solution.”

He confirmed he had recently traveled to Cairo to discuss Egypt’s diplomatic initiative aimed at easing tensions between Lebanon and Israel.

“Yes, I visited Cairo and met with Egyptian officials to ask for their help,” he said. “Some people fail to understand how vital international attention is to protect us from disaster.”

Gemayel said Egyptian officials were “deeply worried about Lebanon,” warning that “they foresee disastrous scenarios and are pushing for solutions that require the state to take responsibility and begin negotiations.” He noted that Egypt, which helped broker a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, is well-positioned to help reach an agreement involving Lebanon.

“Haven’t we learned from Gaza?” Gemayel asked. “Gaza can’t be rebuilt for at least ten years. Do we really want to see what’s left of our country destroyed the same way?”

He urged Lebanese leaders to heed international warnings.

“Only those who refuse to listen are truly deaf,” he said. “We were warned repeatedly, but we continued with reckless posturing. Today, even our friends are urging us to take steps to restore the state and prevent Lebanon from sliding into another war.”

Gemayel also lamented the challenges facing the Lebanese Army in the south, saying Hezbollah’s secrecy undermines its operations.

“The army is doing its job, but Hezbollah doesn’t share the coordinates of missile and weapons sites,” he said. “If the group had cooperated, clearing the area south of the Litani River would have taken three weeks. Instead, it’s taking three months.”

He concluded by emphasizing that Lebanon’s leadership has a duty to protect all citizens, not just those affiliated with specific factions.

“We have a responsibility to protect Lebanon despite everything,” Gemayel said. “Our duty is to safeguard all Lebanese, not just our supporters. The president is responsible for every inch of Lebanon’s 10,452 square kilometers and for every citizen who lives here.”