Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel blamed the current ruling elite for its failure in addressing the acute economic crisis, saying that it has handed the country over to Hezbollah.

 

“Lebanon has not reached this deteriorated situation by chance but rather as a result of the political class’ mismanagement that has handed the country over to Hezbollah and a number of wrong decisions that it has made especially in the last six years additionally to the Beirut blast whose responsible have overlooked the presence of more than 2,500 tons of ammonium nitrate,” Gemayel said during an electoral event held in Dubai.

 

“Will they pay the price? Will they sweep away the past to escape responsability?” he asked.

 

The Kataeb leader deemed accountability as basis of democracy, saying that it is necessary to deliver a message to everyone who has committed a mistake.

 

“The only solution to restore the ties between Lebanon and the Arab countries and stop attempts to drag the country into the Iranian axis is to extract the majority from Hezbollah, which is possible,” he said.

 

Gemayel called on the Lebanese people to cast their votes especially in the South despite the obstacles that the system could create to suspend the electoral process.

 

“We seek competent people who do not compromise. We will support anyone who resembles us and refuses Hezbollah’s hegemony,” he stressed.

 

“Assassinations will not let Hezbollah control the institutions as despite all assassinations and the 7th may, the confrontation was still ongoing, and Hezbollah did not succeed to hold sway over the country and breaking the parliamentary majority that was against it, except through the presidential settlement in which part of March 14 camp handed it over in exchange for ministerial seats and positions,” he emphasized.

 

“After the elections the ruling system will try to escape responsibility from all what happened such as the bombing of the Beirut port, the squandering of $70 billion from depositors’ money, the adoption of the capital control as every financial accountability will lead them to prison,” he said.

 

For his part, Kataeb candidate for the Maronite seat in Metn district Elias Hankache said that it was the first time Lebanon had ever reached such phase in its entire history.

 

“The clarity of the Kataeb party differs it from the others. We have experienced everything in the political life as the biggest crime in the human history which is the Beirut port explosion,” Hankache noted.

 

“Beirut is still bleeding and living in darkness. But there are young people who have the will to confront and fight,” he added.

 

“We seek a productive country, a country of energies, arts and culture not a country of Captagon pills, missiles that supports Iran and Houthis,” he pointed out.

 

“The Kataeb Party is working through its program to confront Hezbollah's weapons and the corruption of the system, neither of which can be tolerated. Our party has its stances and parliamentary struggle, and it is clearly presenting its electoral program to the people,” he added.

 

“We are following up the issue of ensuring that the ballot boxes reach Lebanon without any manipulation, and we called on the Consulate General of Lebanon in Dubai and the Northern Emirates for facilitating the voting of the Lebanese expatriates in Dubai,” he said.

 

Hankache said that 21,000 people have registered to vote for the Lebanese parliamentary elections on May 8 in Dubai, compared to only 6,000 people who have voted in the last polls, pointing out that the Consulate General of Lebanon in Dubai and the Northern Emirates does not accommodate this number.

 

The Kataeb candidate called on the Consulate General of Lebanon in Dubai and the Northern Emirates to clarify the steps it is taking concerning this matter, saying that it should highlight the letter it has submitted to the relevant authorities in Dubai.

 

“It is surprising that a country like the United Arab Emirates, where the Lebanese express their opinion freely, especially in Dubai, rejects any facilitation of the electoral process,” he said.

 

“We are concerned that the Consulate General of Lebanon in Dubai and the Northern Emirates would be reluctant to carry out its duties to facilitate and organize the voting process for the Lebanese expatriates. We seek a clear answer from the Consul General in Dubai, whether on the subject of submitting the letter to the Dubai authorities or in response to the refusal,” he added.

 

"We hope that this matter will be fixed before the 8th of May, and that the polling stations will be transferred to the school to which they must be transferred to complete the process,” he noted.

 

Kataeb candidate for the Maronite seat in Beirut I district Nadim Gemayel said that immigration previously was optional, deeming it today as dangerous.

 

“Today, immigration has become more and more dangerous as the Lebanese people are searching for a new identity,” Gemayel said.

 

“We will keep on fighting and we will confront anyone who will try to change Lebanon’s identity,” he added.

 

“We will preserve our country in which Bachir, Pierre were killed while fighting for the sake of Lebanon. Lebanon will remain for us,” he pointed out.

 

“Confronting Hezbollah requires a decision, a will and an acknowledgment that the presence of weapons is a problem,” he said.

 

“The majorities are not always right. We call on the Lebanese people to vote for us despite our small number as it has changed a lot at a time when the majority did not dare to confront,” he added.

 

“My failure to ally with the Lebanese Forces will not affect my chances for success, because personally and the Kataeb party have a great significance in Achrafieh based on principles,” he noted.

 

Gemayel held the Lebanese state and Hezbollah responsible for the bombing of the Beirut port, pointing out that the required step is to fortify the role of the Lebanese judiciary and raise the threats that is affecting it.

 

The electoral event was attended by Kataeb candidates Samy Gemayel, Elias Hankache, Nadim Gemayel as well as Kataeb expatriates in Dubai.