Gemayel says Lebanon must seize 'historic opportunity' to restore state authority
Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel said Lebanon is facing a rare historic opportunity to restore full State authority, urging political leaders not to squander what he described as a pivotal moment to reestablish sovereignty and place all decision-making and weapons exclusively under state control.
Speaking at a dinner hosted by the Kataeb Party's Sin El Fil branch, Gemayel said restoring the State's authority must take precedence over all other priorities, arguing that no meaningful reform or national recovery can succeed while political decisions and arms remain outside the state's legitimate institutions.
Our priority today is to restore full sovereignty and ensure that the authority to make decisions and bear arms belongs exclusively to the Lebanese State, Gemayel said. As long as weapons and national decision-making remain outside the framework of State legitimacy, no reform plan or rescue effort can succeed.
Gemayel stressed that the Kataeb Party's political battle is not directed against any Lebanese community, but rather against the existence of a statelet within the State, illegal weapons, and foreign influence over Lebanon's affairs.
Our struggle is not against any Lebanese group, he said. It is against the concept of a parallel state, the continued presence of illegal weapons, and allegiance to outside powers.
He argued that dismantling all armed groups operating outside the Lebanese Army and the country's security forces is the essential first step toward rebuilding the State, while calling for the current international attention focused on Lebanon to be used to strengthen state institutions and reinforce national legitimacy.
Gemayel also linked the concerns of Lebanon's Christian community to the broader aspirations of the country as a whole, saying genuine security can only be achieved when all Lebanese enjoy equal rights and responsibilities under a functioning state.
The security of Christians is inseparable from the security of all Lebanese, he said. The only lasting solution is a state where everyone is equal before the law, with the same rights and the same responsibilities.
He outlined a phased approach to national recovery, saying the immediate priority should be restoring sovereignty and extending state authority across all Lebanese territory. Only then, he said, can Lebanon begin the larger task of rebuilding its institutions.
Every phase has its own priorities, Gemayel said. Today's priority is restoring the state. Once that is achieved, we can begin the work of rebuilding it.
The Kataeb leader said his party continues to coordinate with political parties and public figures that share its commitment to state sovereignty, describing the current moment as a national struggle rather than an ordinary political competition.
What Lebanon faces today is not just another political contest, he said. It is a national battle that will determine the country's future.
Gemayel argued that restoring State authority would lay the foundation for Lebanon's broader recovery through stronger institutions and a productive economy capable of creating jobs and slowing emigration.
Lebanon already has everything it needs to recover, he said. What it lacks is security and stability. Our country must stop serving as an arena for other nations' conflicts. Once confidence is restored, we can begin a genuine national recovery.
He concluded by reaffirming the Kataeb Party's willingness to work with all those committed to the principles of statehood and sovereignty, urging Lebanese leaders and citizens alike to capitalize on what he called a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
We remain open to everyone who believes in the state and in Lebanon's sovereignty, Gemayel said. This is a historic moment. We must seize it to build a sovereign, free, and independent Lebanon that offers its people stability, dignity, and hope for the future.
