In response to circulating reports about a "deception" faced by the Shiite Amal-Hezbollah duo during the nomination of Lebanon's new prime minister, Kataeb MP Elias Hankach clarified that no prior agreement had taken place. Instead, he explained that the choice of prime minister was made by the MPs themselves, with each bloc having the freedom to decide.

"The nomination process was based on the decision of each parliamentary bloc, and this is the democratic game," Hankach said in an interview on Al-Jadeed.

He reiterated the clarity of his party's position, emphasizing that the Kataeb Party had nominated Judge Nawaf Salam for prime minister twice before. He also highlighted remarks made by Samy Gemayel, the leader of the Kataeb Party, who called for reaching out to all political components so that everyone could be involved in Lebanon's recovery.

"We must all stand by the President of the Republic, away from political calculations, to push the country forward. We must seize this opportunity not from the perspective of winning or losing, but out of love for the country for which we have sacrificed."

Furthermore, Hankach extended his appreciation to MP Fouad Makhzoumi, praising him as "a statesman who rose above positions and withdrew in favor of unifying the opposition."

Hankach also outlined the Kataeb Party's call for a "conference of truth and reconciliation" to create a system that protects and serves all Lebanese people.

"Our aim is to elevate Lebanon to a system where the state, not illegal weapons or Iran, is the sole protector," he stressed. "Everyone must be convinced that non-state weapons have been a point of weakness and have not led to anything good for the country. What protects Lebanon today is the legitimacy of the state and the exclusivity of arms."

Responding to remarks made by MP Mohammad Raad following the Loyalty to Resistance Bloc's meeting with President Joseph Aoun as part of the parliamentary consultations to name a new PM, Hankach said that Hezbollah is not used to the democratic process and must understand the importance of engaging in Lebanese politics on an equal footing with others.

"Today, we have a new opportunity to move to a new phase and be real partners in the recovery phase," Hankach said.

Regarding the upcoming government formation, Hankach shared his thoughts on the likely structure.

"The direction seems to be toward forming a 24-minister technocratic government," he noted. "The President of the Republic has not requested any shares in the government and has emphasized the need for rotation in the ministries, ensuring that no portfolio is monopolized by any sect."