Gemayel asserted that the Kataeb Party would not engage in a settlement similar to that of 2016, stating, "After initially opposing the election of (Michel) Aoun, everyone, except for the Kataeb, shifted their stance and became supporters of his presidency."
Gemayel did not mince words when he stated that "the country is being held hostage to Hezbollah," a sentiment he consistently echoes. Nevertheless, the youthful leader of the esteemed party, which has consecutively provided two presidents for the Republic - his uncle Bachir and his father Amine Gemayel in August and September 1982, respectively - expressed optimism about the possibility of achieving the presidential elections before the US presidential elections.
He recalled the precedent of electing President Michel Aoun on October 31, 2016, which preceded the US presidential elections in November of that year.
The Kataeb Leader remains unwavering in his approach to domestic political issues, prominently advocating the slogan he introduced during the 2022 parliamentary elections, "No Compromise."
He is unapologetic about staying outside of a potential settlement that some opposition factions might accept today. Instead, he champions a comprehensive solution to what he terms as the "country's crisis," rejecting piecemeal, interim solutions that merely defer addressing Lebanon's underlying problems.
In his office in Bikfaya, located just a few hundred meters from his residence, where a sign reading "Office of MP Samy Gemayel" stands along the pathway leading to it, Gemayel receives visitors.
He is surrounded by a proficient team, from security personnel stationed at the entrance to the meticulously restored old house, preserving its historical charm as one of Bikfaya's notable residences, to the young women in administrative roles.
Operating institutionally within the venerable party established by Cheikh Pierre Gemayel in 1936, the current leader has made Bikfaya, rather than the "Headquarters" in the summertime located at the entrance to downtown Beirut, the headquarters of his party work.
Gemayel's most recent visit to the "Headquarters" was a week and a half ago when he received the French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian.
"I have not moved from Bikfaya," Gemayel replied when asked about his adoption of the current headquarters, without delving into details concerning security threats and other matters.
Regarding the shooting that targeted the Kataeb Headquarters, he stated: "The investigations carried out by the security agencies have not yielded any results. In any case, this is not a new occurrence, as the location of the Kataeb Headquarters makes it accessible for anyone wishing to send messages to us."
Regarding his meeting with French Envoy Jean Yves Le Drian, Gemayel stated, "The French envoy sought to push towards a solution to the presidential file, and he understood our request for guarantees to respond to House Speaker Nabih Berri's call for dialogue or consultative meetings. He expressed concern that the failure to elect a president could lead to further tension and security disturbances in the country. He urged everyone to facilitate the process."
Gemayel viewed the Progressive Socialist Party's move, led by its leader MP Taymour Jumblat, as significant in this context, stating, "The movement of the Progressive Socialist Party, with its leader MP Taymour Jumblat, is appreciated, and we will meet him here in Bikfaya on Thursday. I express my utmost respect for Taymour, the young nationalist who loves the country and approaches matters with a distinctive logic."
Regarding the presidential elections, the Kataeb Leader said: "Today, discussions revolve around consultations and dialogues paving the way for the deadline's completion. However, this seems to be an avoidance of the fundamental issue, which is whether Hezbollah is willing to accept a compromise candidate, a true centrist and not a third candidate (repeated twice), someone who is not just an ordinary individual. The question remains: is this idea acceptable to Hezbollah? It appears evident to everyone that Hezbollah rejects any centrist candidates and insists solely on nominating Frangieh. This stance has been conveyed to Le Drian and previously to the Quint Committee. Furthermore, Hezbollah has not hinted at withdrawing Frangieh from the presidential race, and neither has he taken any steps in this regard."
"We, as opposition, took the initiative to withdraw our main candidate (Independence Movement Leader, MP Michel Mouawad), and we aligned with other partners in supporting former Minister Jihad Azour. We are prepared to explore other names. It is imperative here that the positive approach we adopt is met with similar steps from the other side. They offered us dialogue, and we requested guarantees for participation based on producing positive results, not merely being lumped into the category of equal blame in stalling the presidential elections if dialogue fails. Everyone knows who is obstructing the elections, specifically Hezbollah, which complicates the electoral process and rejects reconciliation. We seek guarantees for opening the parliament to hold the presidential elections, and then we can bypass all formalities," he added.
