As Lebanon grapples with an existential threat posed by the continued presence of displaced Syrians, national concerns are deepening amid a growing consensus that the country, battered by years of compounding crises, can no longer sustain the rising numbers of displaced individuals. 

The situation has become even more pressing following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, which has eliminated the last remaining pretexts previously cited to justify the presence of displaced Syrians in Lebanon. With no regions in Syria deemed unsafe, the rationale for displacement no longer holds, prompting Kataeb to elevate the issue to the top of its national agenda.

Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel, along with his parliamentary bloc, has made this file a central priority, warning that its continued mismanagement poses grave security and economic threats to Lebanon and could jeopardize the country’s national identity and demographic balance. Gemayel has repeatedly called for the return of all Syrians to their homeland, asserting that the reasons for their initial displacement no longer apply. He insists that the continued presence of the displaced on Lebanese soil is now unjustified and has urged accelerated repatriation efforts as a matter of sovereignty.

Speaking at a panel discussion during the CPAC conference in Budapest, Hungary, Gemayel laid out the scale of the crisis: “Lebanon, with a territory of just 10,452 square kilometers and a population of around five million, has become one of the most densely populated countries in the world after hosting more than 1.7 million displaced Syrians. That’s nearly a 50 percent increase in our population."

“To grasp the magnitude, imagine if France were to receive 32 million additional displaced," he added. 

Gemayel noted that Lebanon has borne this burden for over 12 years, insisting that the recent downfall of the Assad regime has invalidated the only argument that ever supported the long-term presence of displaced Syrians.

“What’s the excuse now? The regime is gone. Why are they still here?” he asked.

The Kataeb chief called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to urgently review its policy approach to the Syrian displacement crisis.

“The priority must be to secure the return of the displaced to their homeland,” Gemayel said, adding that the crisis extends beyond Lebanon and affects countries like Jordan, Turkey, and several in Europe.

Joelle Bou Abboud, a member of Kataeb’s Political Bureau, said Gemayel’s address in Budapest was not a one-off statement but part of a sustained party-wide strategy. She noted that Kataeb, in partnership with the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest political group in the European Parliament, maintains constant communication with European governments over the displacement issue. Through its Foreign Affairs Department, the party also regularly participates in high-level meetings across the continent.

“The Syrian displacement file is always on the table. It’s a highly sensitive and urgent issue that the Kataeb Party treats as a top priority,” Bou Abboud said.

What has changed now, she explained, is the fall of the Assad regime and the beginning of sanctions relief.

“That makes this particular moment an extremely important opportunity,” she added.

Against this backdrop, the Kataeb Party is intensifying its efforts across all political and diplomatic channels to push for the displaced Syrians’ return, citing the enormous strain their prolonged presence has placed on Lebanon’s economy, security infrastructure, and demographic makeup. These challenges threaten not just the national identity but the very existence of the Lebanese state, the party has warned.

MP Gemayel, in coordination with Kataeb’s legislative team, has introduced a number of concrete proposals and initiatives aimed at facilitating repatriation. According to the party, these steps reflect Kataeb’s broader commitment to defending Lebanon’s sovereignty, restoring its institutional integrity, and safeguarding its national dignity.