Former Economy Minister Alain Hakim pointed out that “we are living in a state of constant war and tension”, saying that the region is going through a major crisis. 

“Lebanon is left without a president of the Republic who is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Instead of finding swift solutions for Lebanon’s major crises and electing a President, the officials are fighting over the army’s leadership,” Hakim said in an interview with Voice of Lebanon radio station.

“The Kataeb Party has been calling for the election of a president and the implementation of law and Constitution since the beginning,” he went on saying.

 "If what we called for had been adopted, we would not have reached this difficult stage,” Hakim affirmed.

He indicated that today’s political fighting is occurring between individuals and parties of the ruling system, saying that the opposition forces are trying to work to change the imposed reality.

“The opposition forces are not capable of achieving this change except through popular support to confront those who control the decision-making process in the country,” he stressed.

“Today, the only proof of ruling system’s failure is the accumulation of issues and disregard of constitutional entitlements, whether administrative, political, or economic. The accumulation of issues began with the governance of the Bank of Lebanon, passing through the leadership of the army, all the way to the appointment of a new Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation. Private interests and the exchange of names have become the basic doctrine of this system," he noted.

"The administrative and political reforms and appointments are far from what is happening in the south.  Today, the decision on peace and war is in the hands of a well-known party.

“It has plunged Lebanon into this war and say that 'Lebanon is launching rockets', but reality is that Hezbollah is the one who is launching rockets and fighting in the south," Hakim added.

Regarding the possibility of a division within the military institution, Hakim believed that the Lebanese army is a sovereign, integrated and cohesive national unit, saying that internal division cannot be addressed at the moment.

Regarding the visit of French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian to Lebanon, Hakim considered that no one visits Lebanon except to achieve his country’s own interests at the expense of the interests of Lebanon and the Lebanese people.

“The Kataeb Party, along with the opposition parties, tried to prevent external interference and attempts to impose a president. As for Le Drian’s visit, it is just an initiative launched by a country trying to help in light of Lebanon's internal failure,” he said.

Hakim stressed the need to elect a president as soon as possible, considering it as the only solution to all country’s problems.

"It is shameful to wait for external decisions and visits to elect a president,” he noted.

“We are accustomed, after every crisis or war in the region, to having solutions and settlements at the expense of Lebanon and its autonomy. Today, Lebanon is a hostage to the statelet that represents the resistance axis,” Hakim pointed out.

 “We support the Palestinian cause in the Palestinian territories,” he indicated.

Regarding the new amendment to UN Resolution 1701, Hakim pointed out: “Before taking any new decision in light of the presidential vacuum, especially with regard to Hezbollah, we must ask: “Was Resolution 1701 implemented? Hezbollah will not agree on any decision as long as it insists on implementing foreign decisions and agendas on the Lebanese territory.”

Hakim stressed that the majority of the Lebanese reject Hezbollah’s project in Lebanon.