Kataeb MP Elias Hankach reaffirmed the opposition’s unwavering commitment to Lebanon’s presidential elections, highlighting their consistent support for candidates in every voting session held so far.

“For the Kataeb Party and the opposition, no session to elect a president has ever been unserious. This is evident from the fact that we had a candidate for every session. In the first 11 consecutive sessions, our candidate was MP Michel Moawad, and in the 12th, our candidate was Jihad Azour,” Hankach said in an interview with Voice of Lebanon. “Indeed, the January 9 session will be of utmost importance and seriousness.”

Hankach noted that the Kataeb Party and other opposition forces have been engaging in “open-ended meetings with political allies to move forward with the presidential election and break the deliberate deadlock, which Hezbollah has exploited throughout the war.”

The MP outlined the opposition’s vision for Lebanon’s next president, emphasizing the need for bold leadership to tackle pressing national issues.

“We need a president with the courage and boldness to address contentious issues. Foremost among them is placing all weapons under the exclusive control of Lebanese authorities,” he said, referencing the ongoing debate surrounding Hezbollah’s arsenal.

Hankach also stressed the importance of enforcing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which mandates the disarmament of all non-state actors and the strengthening of state authority along Lebanon’s southern border.

“The president must ensure the full implementation of Resolution 1701 in all its provisions,” he said.

He also stressed the need for decisive economic and administrative reforms, saying that “the new president must take bold actions to bring about genuine economic and administrative reforms and elevate Lebanon to the status of a State governed by law and institutions."

Hankach also called for a president capable of restoring Lebanon’s international standing after years of diplomatic isolation.

“The president must bring Lebanon back into its rightful diplomatic sphere and reconnect with its historical allies, reversing the previous foreign policies that alienated Lebanon from the international community,” he stated.