Kataeb Lawmaker Selim Sayegh stated that "the President’s inaugural speech can be summarized in three key themes: judiciary and justice, deposits, and sovereignty. These are the core issues around which Lebanon’s revival revolves."

Sayegh’s remarks came during an interview with Suroyo TV, where he discussed the President’s speech, emphasizing that "we cannot live with dignity without a fair judiciary, equality, and the protection of the judicial system. The President underscores this point when meeting with senior judges, urging them to 'be guided solely by their conscience and influenced only by their convictions.'"

Regarding citizens' bank deposits, Sayegh indicated that "the President is exercising caution on this matter until a government is formed, as he is not in a position to issue directives on the issue. However, he remains committed to ensuring that the losses incurred by the Central Bank and Lebanese banks are not borne by the citizens."

He added, "The theft of deposits is a crime, which is why it is essential to restore them to the citizens—this will be the responsibility of the next government."

Regarding Lebanese sovereignty, he stated, "The President reiterated multiple times in his inaugural speech that only the army and the state are responsible for protecting and defending our borders with Israel and elsewhere. As a result, we can see that the initial phase of implementing the arrangements related to Resolution 1701 is progressing steadily. According to media reports, more than 500 Hezbollah-affiliated sites and storage facilities south of the Litani River have been handed over to the Lebanese Army. This is a significant achievement and a testament to Lebanon’s commitment to implementing Resolution 1701."

Sayegh said "Israel is attempting to retain certain positions until it feels secure enough to complete its full withdrawal south of the Litani. However, this is not merely a withdrawal—it is a handover of weapons to the Lebanese state. We are now awaiting further developments, but when it comes to the President’s inaugural speech, the message is clear. Regarding the judiciary, the President is its highest guarantor, and on the matter of sovereignty, he is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, as stipulated in Article 49 of the Constitution. Therefore, these two issues fall under the President’s authority, and he is guiding them in line with the commitments outlined in his inaugural speech."

He also stressed that the events of May 7, 2008, should not be forgotten, when Beirut was overrun, resulting in dozens of casualties.

He pointed out that this happened due to the absence of the Lebanese Army on the ground at the time, emphasizing that the army should have intervened preemptively and positioned itself preventively before the takeover occurred.

Sayegh argued that the equation has now changed, as Lebanon today has an authority built on the foundation of the President’s inaugural speech—an agreement between Lebanon, President Joseph Aoun, the international community, and key Lebanese stakeholders.

He noted that the President has come to implement this agreement, and anything that falls outside its framework will be dealt with firmly, unlike what happened following the 2008 Doha Agreement, which led to compromises and consensus-building.

He recalled how this situation delayed former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s government formation for six months, despite Saudi and Syrian backing for the Doha Agreement, due to the absence of a strong authority capable of maintaining control.

He added, "Today, we have a President who was a former Lebanese Army Commander, a commando soldier, and a man who means what he says. He is the first Lebanese and Christian figure in power, and no one—whether from the left or the right—can outbid him. This is an opportunity for Lebanon, as the regional equation has shifted due to events in Syria and Gaza, as well as Hezbollah’s setbacks in Lebanon, leading to his rise to the presidency. Politics is no longer what it used to be—things have changed, and the old era is over."

He continued, "There is no more room for political maneuvering. Either the President fully implements his inaugural speech and counters any opposing discourse based on the principles he swore upon before the Lebanese people and Parliament, or we will descend into a state of lawlessness. There is no other option."

Sayegh addressed the issue of government formation, stating: “First, we have confidence in Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam. We contributed to his nomination because we are familiar with his track record, principles, and the shared values that have connected us for some time. That is why we have given him the freedom to work and carry out his mission—because when you expect half a meter from someone, you should be prepared to give them a meter and a half in return."

"Second, regarding the idea of a non-political or non-partisan government, we do not support this approach. However, we understand why it was adopted. We oppose it because those who have fought within a party with integrity and dedication naturally aspire to hold positions—whether in government or municipalities. It is only logical for any party to seek power as a means of implementing its vision and policies," he added.

“The essence of true political party life should function this way. However, in Lebanon, political parties do not operate as they should. After 1975, most parties transformed into militias due to the issue of sovereignty and the collapse of the state. As a result, they took on roles that should have been handled by state institutions. But as the state began to reclaim its authority, parties started shifting towards a more civilian nature rather than a military one. This transformation is necessary for all parties—some have succeeded, while others have not, simply because they have not even attempted it. Hezbollah is one such example," he explained.

He continued: “Now, why did Prime Minister-designate Salam insist on excluding party-affiliated figures from the government? We were displeased by this decision, but he did not offer a direct explanation. However, through our external relations, we understood the rationale: there is an international will to withhold aid from any government that includes sanctioned individuals or figures who view Saudi Arabia and the United States as adversaries of Lebanon."

"In this context, a non-political, non-partisan government allows parties to support individuals who are aligned with them without officially belonging to their ranks or directly executing their orders. This means that Hezbollah, for instance, can appoint two ministers without embarrassing the government or Lebanon, nor jeopardizing international assistance," he added.