Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel attended the European People’s Party (EPP) assembly in Malta, where he called on European allies to support Lebanon’s sovereignty amid escalating regional tensions and growing Iranian influence.  

During his visit, Gemayel met with senior European officials, including former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, EPP Vice President and EU Commissioner for Democracy and Demography Dubravka Šuica, and David McAllister, Chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.  

During these meetings, Gemayel highlighted the significance of November 21, the anniversary of the assassination of his brother, Pierre Gemayel, 18 years ago. He noted that Pierre was one of over 15 Lebanese figures targeted since 2004 for defending Lebanon’s sovereignty against Hezbollah, Iran’s armed proxy.  

Gemayel stressed that Hezbollah has undermined Lebanon’s democracy for over two decades, silencing or eliminating anyone who opposes it. He accused Iran of turning Lebanon into a military base and dragging it into a destructive war with Israel, inflicting heavy costs on the country.  

Gemayel warned of Iran’s expanding dominance across the Middle East, citing its influence in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen through heavily funded proxy forces. He argued that these groups have destabilized their host nations, turning them into battlegrounds for Tehran’s ambitions.  

The Kataeb leader criticized the lack of democratic oversight in Lebanon, pointing out that Hezbollah unilaterally decides on matters of war without parliamentary consent.  

Gemayel also expressed concerns about a potential deal that could allow Hezbollah to retain its weapons. He cautioned that such an arrangement might see Hezbollah withdraw from border conflicts and cease its threats against Israel while maintaining its arsenal within Lebanon. This, he warned, would leave Lebanon hostage to Iranian influence and further compromise its sovereignty.  

He called on European and global partners to pressure both Iran and Israel to cease hostilities and respect Lebanon’s independence. Gemayel emphasized the critical role of the EPP in promoting human rights and peace across the region, including in Lebanon, and urged them to amplify the Lebanese people’s cries for help within the European Union.  

Gemayel concluded by stressing the need for Lebanon to return to its identity as the “Switzerland of the East,” a nation celebrated for its cultural heritage, democratic governance, and prosperity. He called for a renewed effort to rebuild a free, sovereign, and thriving Lebanon, where democracy prevails, and its people can achieve their potential.