Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel said Lebanon was facing a rare opportunity to restore State authority, urging the government and presidency to act decisively to strengthen the army, implement State decisions and prevent the country from becoming hostage to regional powers.

Speaking during a meeting with a team from Transparency News at the Kataeb Party headquarters in Saifi, Gemayel discussed domestic issues as well as political and regional developments, focusing on ways to strengthen the authority of the State and ensure its decisions are implemented.

Gemayel stressed the importance of restoring the Lebanese State’s credibility with both its citizens and the international community, warning that leaving government decisions unimplemented would weaken the State, make it more vulnerable and undermine confidence in its ability to fulfill its responsibilities and protect the country.

The Kataeb chief praised the government for taking what he described as exceptionally bold decisions since taking office, saying some were among the most significant taken in more than 50 years. However, he stressed that the value of those decisions ultimately depended on putting them into practice.

“The decisions taken by the government are exceptional, and among the boldest we have seen in more than 50 years,” Gemayel said. “But decisions have no value if they remain on paper. The courage shown in making these decisions must be matched by the courage to implement them.”

He said the priority was to ensure the success of the current presidency and government because their success would also mean success for the Lebanese State.

“We should not lose sight of the real objective by getting caught up in disputes with the president or the prime minister,” he said. “They are working toward the same goal: restoring the sovereignty of the State. Our responsibility is to support them in their positions and decisions and to back every step that strengthens State institutions.”

Gemayel said it was also important to clearly identify the political adversary and avoid misjudging its strength.

“The political confrontation is with Hezbollah, the Iranian axis and the arms connected to it, not with State institutions or the officials running them,” he said.

He said regional developments, particularly the fall of the Assad regime and the weakening of Hezbollah, had created a genuine opportunity for the Lebanese State to regain the initiative.

“Hezbollah is much weaker than some people think,” Gemayel said. “Part of its strength comes from fear, intimidation and creating an exaggerated image of its capabilities.”

He also warned that inaccurate information was reaching State authorities and urged officials to verify intelligence and assessments before making decisions.

“Some of the information reaching the State is inaccurate,” he said. “We have to verify it and make sure we are not building our choices on mistaken assessments.”

On tensions between the United States and Iran, Gemayel said Lebanon could not afford to base its strategy on waiting for one side to prevail, the Iranian regime to collapse or negotiations between Washington and Tehran to produce a particular outcome.

“Lebanon cannot build its strategy around waiting for the fall of the Iranian regime or betting on who will win between the United States and Iran,” he said. “The State has to take control of its own affairs, protect its interests and fully exercise its sovereignty.”

He called for Lebanon to play a more active role in the diplomatic process so that the country’s future would not be determined by agreements reached by foreign powers.

“Lebanon must have a role in the negotiations,” he said. “We cannot allow the future of our country to remain hostage to external understandings. Lebanon must not become a battleground or a tool in the hands of others, nor should we simply wait for arrangements to be imposed on us.”

Gemayel stressed that the objective was not to enter another war but to take practical steps toward safety by rebuilding State institutions, strengthening the security and military presence and gradually extending State control over all Lebanese territory.

“The goal is not to start another war,” he said. “The goal is to take practical steps that can bring Lebanon to safety by building the State, strengthening its security and military presence and gradually extending its authority across the entire country.”

On the Lebanese army’s deployment, Gemayel said the priority should be to maintain, expand and consolidate its presence on the ground.

“We need to keep the army deployed, expand its presence and consolidate it,” he said, calling for an end to arguments over whether the army was present during the day and absent at night. “We should focus on completing the deployment and making it permanent.”

Gemayel noted that the army had reached areas close to Nabatiyeh and was continuing to expand its deployment, saying the process needed to be supported until State authority was firmly established.

He also called for the gradual dismantling of Hezbollah’s military and security infrastructure in villages and other areas, saying this was necessary to prevent military positions from remaining available for use in any future confrontation.

“The objective is to progressively eliminate military and security infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah from the villages and areas where it exists,” he said. “We have to prevent the existence of centers and positions that could be used in a future confrontation, narrow the space in which any military capability can operate outside the State and prevent it from spreading into areas far beyond Hezbollah’s traditional strongholds.”

Gemayel also outlined what he described as a clear division of responsibilities between the country’s leadership.

“The president should take responsibility for negotiations and the political work connected to them, while the government should be responsible for implementing decisions, building institutions and strengthening the State’s presence on the ground,” he said.

He expressed strong support for Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, praising his integrity, character and qualifications and saying they positioned him to lead the political effort to restore State authority.

“I have great respect for Nawaf Salam, for his integrity, his decency and his qualifications,” Gemayel said. “His moral resilience is one of his greatest strengths, and protecting and supporting it will help the State succeed at this critical stage.”

Gemayel also highlighted what he described as important changes emerging from within Hezbollah’s own community, calling for greater support for independent Shiite voices in southern Lebanon and for those challenging the group’s policies and practices.

“Change from within a community is a key factor in confronting political and military projects,” he said.

Gemayel said independent Shiite voices should be given greater space to express themselves publicly.

“We need to bring the voice of the free Shiite to the public and give it the space to express its position,” he said. “Real change starts here, and supporting these voices is an essential part of restoring the State and its sovereignty.”