The Kataeb’s Political Bureau held its weekly meeting under the chairmanship of party leader Samy Gemayel, during which it discussed the latest political, security and economic developments. Following its deliberations, it issued the following statement:

1. Protecting the Lebanese people and preventing a repeat of the tragedies that have devastated large parts of the country are among the State’s foremost responsibilities. This requires the authorities to move beyond merely issuing decisions and take concrete steps to implement them, while decisively resolving the issue of ensuring that arms remain exclusively in the hands of the legitimate State authorities.

Accordingly, the Political Bureau calls on the government to enforce its decisions, treat Hezbollah’s militia as a prohibited armed organization, and instruct the Lebanese army to deploy across the entire country, beginning with secure areas and ultimately extending the authority of the State to every part of Lebanese territory without exception.

In this context, the Political Bureau expresses its solidarity with the growing calls emerging from southern Lebanon, particularly from the city of Nabatiyeh, for the deployment of the Lebanese army and for weapons to be placed exclusively under State authority. Such measures are needed to protect the city and its residents and prevent it from joining the growing list of towns that have been destroyed, occupied and emptied of their inhabitants.

2. The launch of a serious and swift reform process is an essential prerequisite for reviving Lebanon’s public administration and national economy and putting an end to the paralysis that continues to undermine efforts to restore confidence in the country.

The Political Bureau therefore urges the government to accelerate the implementation of the necessary administrative, financial and banking reforms in a way that restores the proper functioning of State institutions, revitalizes the economy, helps remove Lebanon from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list, and paves the way for the country to reclaim its rightful place in the international financial and economic systems.

3. On the anniversary of the assassination of President Bashir Gemayel, the Political Bureau calls on the Lebanese people to take part in the commemorative gathering at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13, in Sassine Square, reaffirming their commitment to the vision for which he gave his life: a free and sovereign Lebanon; a strong and capable State that alone holds the authority over arms and national decision-making; and a country that unites its people around its institutions and constitutional legitimacy, free from war, foreign tutelage and division.