The Kataeb’s Political Bureau held its weekly meeting under the chairmanship of party leader Samy Gemayel to discuss the latest developments and issued the following statement:

1- The Political Bureau considers that the time for stalling over the issue of weapons outside State control is over. Such weapons have brought destruction upon Lebanon, led to the ongoing Israeli occupation and continue to provide Israel with pretexts to maintain and expand its presence.

The Political Bureau therefore rejects any attempt to revive the same equation that prevailed before and called on the government to put a definitive end to the duality of decision-making, implement its decisions without delay, and move swiftly to place all weapons, as well as security and military decision-making, under State control. It also calls for empowering the Lebanese army and legitimate security forces to enforce their authority across the entire country.

2- The Political Bureau rejects any attempt to make Lebanese citizens bear the cost of the crisis. The State cannot continue reaching into the citizens' pockets while a parallel economy operating outside State control undermines the national economy through smuggling and tax evasion, drains Treasury revenues and damages the legitimate economy.

The Political Bureau considers that Lebanon’s economic crisis cannot be separated from the country’s security and political situation. Hezbollah’s weapons have repeatedly drawn Lebanon into wars and instability, discouraging investment, hurting tourism and closing off economic opportunities that the country needs to overcome its crisis.

The Political Bureau also warns against exploiting any legitimate social movement to undermine the government’s efforts to strengthen State sovereignty or distract Lebanese from the real causes of the crisis. There can be no State with weapons outside its control, no sound economy alongside a parallel economy operating above the law, and citizens cannot be made to pay for the crisis twice: once as a result of wars and again as a result of an economy operating outside the State.

3- The Political Bureau reaffirms its support for the government delegation in its negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and calls for the agreement with the IMF to be signed as soon as possible and for the necessary reforms to be implemented without further delay.

It also stresses the need to swiftly pass and implement the remaining reform legislation, saying this would open the door to Arab and international support for Lebanon. More time can no longer be wasted at the expense of the economy, depositors’ rights and the country’s future.