The Kataeb Political Bureau held its weekly meeting under the chairmanship of the party’s deputy president, Bernard Gerbaka, to discuss the latest political, security, economic and social developments. Following deliberations, the Bureau issued the following statement:

1. The State’s decision to negotiate on behalf of Lebanon and to retain exclusive control over weapons and security decisions is a constitutional and institutional act that leaves no room for ambiguity or compromise. It places a clear responsibility on the government to ensure that its decisions are implemented and to instruct the Lebanese army to deploy at designated locations.

The Political Bureau stresses that negotiations with Israel, under U.S. auspices, must be pursued on the basis of the government’s decision to deploy the army and enforce the State’s exclusive control over weapons. Protecting this process requires Lebanon to retain full authority over its decision-making, without allowing it to be affected by any shifts in foreign policy.

In this context, the Political Bureau reiterates the party leader’s position on the decision to grant residency to the former Iranian chargé d’affaires after the Foreign Ministry had declared him persona non grata. Such a move undermines the authority of the State and runs counter to Lebanon’s sovereign decisions.

2. The continued deterioration of the security situation is deepening the country’s crisis and hindering efforts to revive the economy.

The Political Bureau therefore renews its call for depositors’ rights to be protected in any financial recovery plan and for economic activity to be restarted.

It also reaffirms its opposition to imposing additional taxes on citizens or depleting public resources through open-ended support policies that fail to address the root causes of the crisis.

3. The growing chaos on Lebanon’s roads, coupled with a worrying rise in traffic deaths and accidents, reflects a serious erosion of State authority and its ability to enforce the law and protect its citizens.

The Political Bureau calls on the State to adopt a comprehensive road-safety plan and enforce traffic laws firmly and consistently, both to protect the lives of Lebanese citizens and to restore the authority of the State on the country’s roads.

4. Ensuring children’s right to education has become an increasingly urgent social challenge as tuition fees continue to rise and financial pressures on Lebanese families mount.

The Political Bureau calls on the State to develop a practical plan to ensure that every Lebanese child can attend school and to prevent the country’s difficult economic and living conditions from becoming a barrier to their fundamental right to education.