Head of the Kataeb Media Department Patrick Richa pointed out that the dynamics and positions have changed over the past month.

"We, as a political team, emerged victorious today with the election of President Joseph Aoun and the designation of Judge Nawaf Salam to form the government. We are optimistic and will support both of them, ensuring the conditions for their success," Richa said in an interview with Voice of Lebanon.

Richa confirmed that the Kataeb Party did not impose major conditions on the Prime Minister-designate but had some observations.

He highlighted that the Kataeb Party respects the agreements made by the President and the Prime Minister-designate regarding government formation criteria, consultations with political parties, and the proposal of names.

He added, "We have cooperated with them both. This cooperation is one of facilitation, not leniency."

He underscored the necessity for the government to address key issues, such as implementing a ceasefire agreement, enforcing international resolutions like 1701 and 1559, enacting reforms required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the international community to secure financial aid, and filling vacancies in public institutions and administration

Richa affirmed that Hezbollah no longer has many options, as it must adhere to its commitments to both the international community and the domestic front.

He added, "What we are witnessing recently is Hezbollah's attempt to circumvent these commitments, while it had pledged to the state, the government, the Quintet Committee, the United States, and the international community to uphold a ceasefire agreement. Therefore, the statement of U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus from Baabda was in this direction."

He emphasized that there will be no solution in Lebanon as long as the issue of illegal weapons remains unresolved.

He pointed out that this matter is resolved, saying that Hezbollah must acknowledge that its options have failed multiple times.

He explained, "Hezbollah has failed in managing the country, and its governments have led to economic collapse and Lebanon's isolation due to its involvement in regional wars, which resulted in the encirclement and downfall of Lebanon, leading to the last war, which was the result of the theory of linking arenas and all these empty slogans. Therefore, if the central issue of weapons is not resolved, we will return to the same problem. We do not want to go backward."

Regarding the Kataeb Party's participation in the government, Richa said, "Our enthusiasm for participation stems from the guarantees we received from both the President and the Prime Minister-designate, ensuring that we do not go backward, particularly on the issue of the ministerial statement and the equation of 'Army, People, Resistance.'"

Commenting on the exclusion of party members from the government, he said, "After the U.S. envoy's statement in Baabda, we understood the Prime Minister-designate's choice to exclude party members, as his goal is to keep Hezbollah’s party members out of the government."

Regarding the name of lawyer Adel Nassar, proposed by the Kataeb Party for the Ministry of Justice, Rcsha said: "Nassar is an experienced lawyer with great abilities, a friend of the Kataeb leader. We share the same vision in handling major issues such as the Beirut Port explosion, judicial independence, and political assassinations. So far, there has been a positive response from the Prime Minister-designate regarding this vision."

On the Kataeb Party's approach and its policy of extending a hand to avoid excluding any party, Richa clarified that the Kataeb Party calls for not excluding the Shiite community, and for the community not to pay the price of Hezbollah's adventures, which should bear the cost of its management of the country.

He stated that Hezbollah should allow space for new Shiite talents because the Shiite representation in governments cannot be monopolized by the duo. This is why the upcoming parliamentary elections are crucial for diversifying political representation.

He firmly reiterated that there is no compromise on the issue of weapons, adding, "We would have preferred not to reach this point in government formation, but we respect the choices of Aoun and Salam and trust the guarantees we received."

He pointed out that what the Prime Minister-designate did in Baabda is not easy, noting that it is rare to see Speaker Nabih Berri exit through the back door after any meeting, indicating that "we have entered a new phase."

Richa emphasized that Hezbollah must disband its militias to integrate into political life and the state, asking, "Will it take this step as an independent decision or be forced by the state? We hope it will be a self-driven decision to move to the next stage. Thus, returning to Lebanon requires many steps."

In response to a question, Richa clarified that the Prime Minister-designate has not yet assumed power, and President Joseph Aoun cannot function without a government. While major solutions require time, persistence is crucial, and the inauguration speech was clear in this regard.

He also mentioned that the guarantees received were explicit.

Regarding a potential conference for reconciliation and honesty, Richa stressed its importance, saying that the Lebanese are tired of patchwork solutions.

He added, "Today, we tell them that the official Lebanese state’s task is to sponsor dialogue and reconciliation between the Lebanese. We are groups afraid of each other, driven by anxieties that push them to seek external support for protection or control of the government. This has been the case since Lebanon's inception. So we ask, hasn’t it come time for Hezbollah to say 'Lebanon first'? The idea of the conference is now in the hands of the President of the Republic. Before the elections, Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel presented Lebanon's friends during his foreign visit with this idea, which was also proposed to Berri. All that is missing is the will and readiness to move from one phase to another and delve into the core issues to reach a solution."

He continued, "We need to stop complaining and move to action, despite the discouraging experiences of the past. We must learn to look at things positively and create an atmosphere that fosters the implementation of projects. We must maintain this enthusiasm and move towards forming a government based on specific conditions and principles, and move forward. The names being leaked through various channels are an honor for the government."

Richa confirmed that the Kataeb Party is not participating in the government as a party but through its allies.

Responding to a question about implementing the ceasefire agreement south of the Litani River, Richa stressed that the Lebanese state alone is responsible for decisions of war and peace. The ceasefire agreement designates the security forces responsible for carrying weapons in Lebanon, and Hezbollah is not mentioned.

On recent security incidents, he said, "The Lebanese are urging the security forces and political leadership to be present among the people, by deploying checkpoints and patrols, preventing motorcycle violations. Security stability must accompany political stability to create a better environment for business, and investment, and to halt the migration drain."