Lebanese Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel on Wednesday called for the Lebanese Parliament to become a forum for reconciliation and transparency immediately after Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam’s government secures the legislature’s confidence. Gemayel believes this step is essential to allow Lebanese citizens to voice their concerns and work toward addressing them. He emphasized that such a process requires true equality among all Lebanese, where no group holds exclusive power or military strength over others, and no foreign agendas dictate the country’s future.

“We must have the courage to say enough with the wars and bloodshed,” Gemayel declared during a parliamentary session discussing the ministerial statement ahead of a confidence vote. “Lebanon should not reflect the image of any single group but rather the image of all of us. If we fail in this, Lebanon will remain trapped in crises and wars.”

Gemayel began his speech by expressing full confidence in the new government’s ability to usher in a new chapter in Lebanon’s history.

“The ministerial statement is the best we’ve seen in 30 years,” he remarked. “We hope the government can achieve at least 20% of its Stated objectives, and I hereby announce my confidence in it.”

However, Gemayel chose not to dwell on the ministerial statement, explaining that Lebanon faces far more pressing issues. Reflecting on the recent funeral of Hezbollah’s two secretaries-general, he recalled past moments of national mourning, such as the funerals of former President Bachir Gemayel, Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and the late Kamal Jumblatt.

“I felt we cannot carry on with business as usual, discussing the ministerial statement and appointments, while Lebanon has just endured a massive ordeal. The country is in ruins, thousands of martyrs have fallen, and we are bankrupt,” he Stated.

Gemayel highlighted the deep divisions within Lebanese society, the ongoing foreign occupation in southern Lebanon, and the urgent need for Parliament, in coordination with the government and the President, to ensure these issues are confronted head-on.

“We are still grappling with the consequences of a large foreign army occupying part of our land. The Lebanese remain divided, and there is deep suffering among many,” he said. “As parliamentarians, we cannot pretend nothing has happened. We must face reality.”

He warned against forgetting Lebanon’s painful past and repeating the same mistakes. He stressed that Lebanon’s modern history is composed of multiple narratives, each contributing to the country’s complex identity.

“In Lebanon, there is more than one story,” he explained. “One is the story of the Kataeb Party, which lost 5,513 martyrs defending Lebanon. Another is the story of those who lived through the great regional empires, contributed to the creation of Greater Lebanon, and dreamed alongside figures like Gamal Abdel Nasser and Yasser Arafat.”

Gemayel also acknowledged the struggles of those who fought for Lebanon through different eras, referencing the legacy of Kamal Jumblatt and the significant contributions of the southern Lebanese community.

“There is also the story of those who do not belong to any of these narratives—secular individuals loyal only to the State, who tried to promote the idea of the State but were unable to bring everyone into their vision,” he noted.

Despite these divisions, Gemayel questioned whether Lebanon, in 2025, is ready to embrace a new, unified narrative that brings together all factions and forges a collective national identity. He reiterated his call for a national reconciliation conference, stressing the need to acknowledge the sacrifices and mistakes of all sides.

“In Lebanon, we all have our mistakes and sacrifices,” he said. “If we do not establish a new Lebanese story that recognizes each other’s experiences, we will fall back into the same mistakes. This must be part of our shared identity.”

Gemayel further argued that national reconciliation is impossible as long as armed groups outside State control continue to undermine equality among Lebanese citizens.

“My freedom ends where the freedom of others begins,” he declared. “The presence of armed factions violates our collective freedom. We cannot build a peaceful Lebanon while weapons remain outside the State’s authority.”

Addressing Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad directly, Gemayel insisted that weapons have failed to protect Lebanon or any of its groups.

“The only real protection comes from all of us standing together—through our State, our government, and our military. We want to protect the south and every inch of our land through the strength of our national institutions, not through any armed faction,” he asserted.

Gemayel reiterated that Lebanon’s unity must be founded on equality, and the country’s fate must not be dictated by external powers. He appealed to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to transform the legislature into a platform for reconciliation and transparency, where all concerns can be addressed openly. He also urged the implementation of the Taif Agreement and called on all political leaders to have the courage to say, “Enough with the wars and bloodshed.”

“Let us have the courage to say enough and ensure Lebanon reflects all of us, or else it will remain mired in crises and conflict,” Gemayel concluded, expressing hope that once the new government secures Parliament’s confidence, it will initiate genuine reconciliation and lay the foundations for a new chapter in Lebanon’s history.