The Political Bureau of the Lebanese Kataeb Party met under the chairmanship of Deputy President Bernard Gerbaka to discuss the latest political, economic and social developments and issued the following positions:

1. The Political Bureau calls on the government to move immediately from decisions to implementation and to put a definitive end to the presence of weapons operating outside the authority of the State, beginning with the declaration of Beirut as a weapons-free city and extending the measure to all Lebanese territory. This would help establish the State’s exclusive authority over security and military decisions.

The bureau stresses that restoring the State’s authority over decisions of war and peace is essential to ending the current conflict, liberating occupied Lebanese territory, creating the conditions for the return of displaced people, launching reconstruction efforts and restoring the confidence of Arab countries and the international community in Lebanon and in the State’s ability to safeguard stability.

2. The Political Bureau warns of a further deterioration in the country’s economic and social conditions as winter approaches, with families facing the mounting costs of school tuition, heating and diesel fuel amid continued price increases and declining purchasing power.

The Bureau calls on the State to take immediate measures to ease the financial  burden on citizens rather than imposing additional taxes and fees.

At the same time, it urges the government to strengthen state revenues by combating smuggling and tax evasion, curbing waste and improving revenue collection, thereby ensuring a fairer distribution of the financial burden.

The bureau stresses that any serious effort to address Lebanon’s economic and social crisis must begin with ending the war and restoring stability. This would enable Lebanon to mobilize international support and convene conferences to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces, finance economic recovery and support reconstruction.

It warns, however, that such efforts would remain out of reach unless the State fully restores its sovereignty and ends the presence of illegal weapons.

3. The Political Bureau also warns of the growing danger posed by the rise in extremist and inciting rhetoric, both political and religious, and the impact it can have on children and younger generations.

It calls on the State to assume its responsibility to prevent children from becoming victims of political and social division, violence and hatred.

The bureau, therefore, calls for the adoption of the legislation and measures necessary to protect minors from harmful content, exploitation and other dangerous influences to which they are exposed through social media. Such measures should provide children with a safe environment and protect their right to grow up free from extremism, violence and hatred.