Senior Lebanese Maronite politician Gebran Bassil opposes the head of the army running for the presidency, according to a Reuters report.
Iran-backed Hezbollah should prioritize domestic matters in Lebanon rather than broader regional issues, Bassil stated on Tuesday, emphasizing his opposition to the army chief's presidential bid. The past year's conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which ended with a provisional ceasefire mediated by the U.S. and France in November, resulted in over 4,000 deaths, thousands displaced, and significant military losses for the Shia group, with many of its leaders killed.
"It's a process where Hezbollah acknowledges its role within the Lebanese state, not as a parallel entity," Bassil, a Maronite Christian and one of Lebanon's most prominent politicians, told Reuters in an interview in Paris. "We don't seek their demise; we want them as equal partners in Lebanon, adhering to the rules and safeguarding the nation's sovereignty. We share their stance on defending Lebanon and supporting the Palestinian cause, but through political and diplomatic means, not militarily."
Bassil, who advocates for Hezbollah's detachment from the Iran-aligned 'Axis of Resistance', leads the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), a Christian party established by former president Michel Aoun, his father-in-law, and aligned with Hezbollah. He was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2020 for alleged corruption and support to Hezbollah, which he denies.
In Paris, Bassil met with French officials but declined to comment on whether he met Donald Trump's regional envoy, fellow Maronite Massad Boulos, who accompanied the U.S. president-elect to France last weekend. Since the ceasefire, Paris has intensified efforts to engage with Lebanon's key players to resolve the political deadlock, which has left the country without a president or permanent government for two years.
The presidency is reserved for Christians, but the stalemate reflects internal rivalries within the community and critical political and religious balances. Authorities have scheduled a parliamentary session on January 9 to elect a new president. Bassil, who holds enough support to block a Maronite candidate, opposes the candidacy of Joseph Aoun, the army chief, whom both the U.S. and France consider a viable candidate.
Bassil argued that Aoun's appointment would contravene the constitution and lacks consensus among Lebanese factions. "We oppose him because we don't view him as suitable for the presidency," Bassil said. "We need candidates who can unite the Lebanese," he added, without naming a preferred candidate.
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