The Kataeb Party’s Europe Region and its Paris Chapter hosted their annual dinner on Friday, bringing together Lebanese political party representatives, diaspora leaders, and community members to celebrate the party’s 89th anniversary.

MP Nadim Gemayel, who attended the event, delivered a wide-ranging address detailing the severe political, economic, and security challenges facing Lebanon. He warned that the country stands at a critical crossroads, requiring clarity, courage, and decisive action to restore the state and rebuild it on the pillars of sovereignty, legality, and constitutional order.

Gemayel emphasized the vital role of youth, both within Lebanon and across the diaspora, calling them “the voice of the future and the backbone of the capable, modern state we aspire to build.” He stressed that diaspora participation is not only a right but a national necessity, crucial for restoring balance to Lebanon’s political landscape. He also praised the Europe Region and Paris Chapter for maintaining effective communication with diaspora members and for organizing disciplined, modern party work in preparation for upcoming elections.

Jean-Claude Bechara, head of the Paris Chapter, highlighted the pressing political challenge of securing the full political rights of Lebanese expatriates, rejecting proposals that would limit their representation to just six parliamentary seats.

“The voice of the diaspora is not six MPs… the voice of the diaspora is the right to elect all 128 representatives,” he said.

Bechara also reflected on the reasons behind emigration: “We didn’t leave for luxury… we left because our country abandoned us, without protection and without a future.”

Europe Region head Ziad El-Hajj echoed these sentiments, noting that the strong turnout underscored the diaspora’s importance, which he described as “not an exit from the homeland, but an extension of it.” He highlighted the diaspora’s essential role in the Kataeb Party’s struggle for freedom and sovereignty.

Marking the party’s anniversary, El-Hajj celebrated “a proud history written by generations who carried the banner of a strong, just, and sovereign Lebanese state” and described the launch of the Paris Chapter’s electoral campaign as a key political milestone. He also reviewed the region’s achievements over the past year, including political, legal, and cultural seminars, solidarity initiatives, and social programs, noting that “Kataeb Europe does not retreat because of distance; it acts where necessary and assumes its responsibilities as if it were at the heart of Lebanon.”