In his comments on the recent "Quintet Statement," Kataeb Lawmaker Selim Sayegh highlighted that the conflict is not merely between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and others, but it extends far beyond Lebanon, involving the Quintet committee and Iran.

He questioned whether they would be able to persuade Iran to relinquish its hold on the Lebanese issue and agree on a consensus Lebanese president who could unify the country and secure Lebanon's place at the negotiating table for the new regional order.

"This is the problem today, and they should not burden us with it. To them, we have become like Native Americans in Lebanon, fighting amongst ourselves and seemingly unable to establish a state. On the contrary, we built a state in Lebanon, but the strong influence of external factors has disrupted internal balances. This is not new; it dates back to 1958 and beyond, leading to the current internal collapse in Lebanon. Yet, it remains the only democratic state with a pluralistic administration among many countries," Sayegh said in an interview with Voice of Lebanon radio station.

"How can Lebanon address the issue of Syrian displacement in the absence of an official spokesperson in international forums? We need a president with a clear mission, not one who perpetuates the vacuum but rather leads us out of it. This belief must be shared by Hezbollah because the same party that prevents Lebanon from addressing the displacement issue in a sovereign and lawful manner is the one that keeps the borders with Syria open, allowing for the unchecked smuggling of people and goods, thus violating Lebanese sovereignty in the east and north. Hezbollah bears this responsibility," he noted.

"We are in constant communication with the capitals of Lebanon's friendly nations, all of whom are keen on the country's well-being and want a president who can unify it. Hence, they seek a consensus president, but for Hezbollah, a consensus candidate is its nominee. We informed the Quintet during our meetings that we have no issue with going to Parliament for consultations," he stated.

"However, other parties must declare their lack of commitment to their candidates. The third point is, if there is no consensus on a president, will there be a clear commitment from Speaker Berri to proceed with the voting regardless of the consultation outcomes? We told the Quintet that we are not ready to engage in futile dialogue without a prior commitment to holding elections," he added.

Sayegh noted that the Quintet is working diligently with Speaker Berri, who in turn is in communication with Hezbollah.

He emphasized that Hezbollah's response in recent consultations was not positive, adding, "Ultimately, Hezbollah does not want to lose its sole candidate. The idea of moderation is to agree on an acceptable list of names during consultations, not to truncate the democratic process but to pave the way for it," he said.

"When we discussed this with the Quintet and some MPs, we received no definitive answers, indicating that the presidential issue has not yet matured. The Quintet's emphasis on accelerating the presidential elections reflects deep concerns over imminent dangers facing Lebanon, suggesting it is an inevitable matter. Therefore, Lebanese unity within institutions is crucial for confronting and preserving the country," Sayegh indicated.

"Today, who will mobilize Lebanese diplomacy, and how will Lebanon respond if the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel escalates? " he asked.

"The discussions in our meetings indicate a 50% chance of war expansion. Major countries have evacuation plans for their nationals from Lebanon, but what are we as a state doing? What is our plan? Where is the Lebanese state, and how will it respond to this threat?" he added.

"The refusal of Quintet ambassadors to meet certain MPs due to sanctions against party leaders signals that Lebanon's future cannot hinge on politically compromised figures internationally," he explained.

"We need the East and West, but our strength lies in our independence from both, ensured by internal national partnership and resilience. The dysfunctionality of the Lebanese state, due to known reasons like arms and corruption—two sides of the same coin—raises questions," Sayegh emphasized.

"Should we elect a ceremonial president, or should we discuss the stability of the Middle East, the future of Palestine, Syria, Egypt, and the Gulf states' stability, and Lebanon's role in regional security?" he asked.

"Lebanon has a unique opportunity to bridge internal sectarian divides and leverage this for economic and commercial benefits. Lebanese abroad are shaping the future, yet internally, we are self-destructing. This is the fear today, and we urge Hezbollah to consider the treasure that Beirut represents and think of collective victories we can achieve as Lebanese globally. Hezbollah's current path is self-destructive, benefiting Israel and all those coveting Lebanon. Our strength lies in translating our intelligence and upbringing into global markets and preserving it," he asserted.