Kataeb MP Elias Hankach emphasized that his party remains committed to its opposition alliances despite a recent meeting with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on the 20th anniversary of the assassination of his father, Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

“While we are keen on marking this occasion and meeting with Hariri, we are equally committed to maintaining strong ties with our allies in the opposition,” he said in an interview with Al Kalima Online. “I am referring here to MPs Ashraf Rifi, Waddah Sadek, and Fouad Makhzoumi, with whom we have worked over the past two years. The success of the opposition stems from its diversity, bringing together Sunni, Druze, and Christian MPs.”

The meeting comes after lingering tensions with the Future Movement, following Saad Hariri’s previous accusations of betrayal against his former allies. However, Hankach downplayed these past disputes, stressing the importance of looking forward.

“We are not concerned with accusations of betrayal,” he said. “What matters most is looking ahead to the new chapter the country has entered—one that moves away from past anomalous alliances and political maneuvering that lacked a clear vision or solid foundation. The Kataeb Party has paid a heavy price for standing firm in its positions, values, and principles.”

Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel’s visit to Hariri also signaled a shift in the security climate in Lebanon, as he bypassed security barriers to meet the former premier. Hankach suggested that the security restrictions that once accompanied the movements of opposition figures, including Gemayel, has now eased.

“Everyone senses that the pressing security threats that previously accompanied the movements of certain figures, including MP Samy Gemayel, are no longer in place,” he said.

“There is now a growing sense that the state and its security agencies are asserting their authority on the ground, rather than Hezbollah’s statelet,” he said. “If there are still security concerns, they stem from uncontrolled weapons, illegal arms, and Palestinian weapons outside the camps.”

Despite acknowledging ongoing security risks, Hankach expressed cautious optimism about the country’s trajectory.

“Of course, we have not yet reached the ideal situation we aspire to, but we are on the right path—ensuring that weapons are exclusively under the state's control and putting an end to the security chaos that necessitated such measures.”