From his stronghold of Meerab, in the heights of Mount Lebanon, Christian right-wing leader Samir Geagea went on the offensive on Saturday, October 12. A banner announced the program: "1701. 1680. 1559," the number of UN Security Council resolutions calling for the restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty and the disarmament of Hezbollah. For the leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF), this program should guide the future president's actions, a position that has been vacant for almost two years. Geagea insists that electing a "credible president" without delay is the "only option" for achieving a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.
These demands are not new, but the Christian leader feels his time has come. The death of his long-time adversary, Hassan Nasrallah, assassinated on September 27 in an Israeli strike, has shaken the Lebanese political scene. It created an opportunity that the head of the LF intends to capitalize on. With Hezbollah, hitherto ultra-dominant in Lebanon, there is hope for a shift in the balance of power. "We don't want to eliminate or isolate Hezbollah," said Geagea, adding that the Shiite movement "must become a party like any other." The calls from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for the Lebanese to "assert themselves" against Hezbollah are encouraging the LF to push their pawns.
There are rumored that Washington, which has made the presidential issue a priority, is backing the candidacy of General Joseph Aoun, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The 60-year-old has no significant opposition. Diplomats praise his "political acumen" during the war and regarding displaced persons. However, Geagea does not endorse his candidacy. At 71, he insists that he is not thinking about the presidency, which is vacant due to differences in parliament with Hezbollah. However, those around him are less categorical. "He's a natural candidate, if only because he has the largest [Christian] group in Parliament," defends LF MP Pierre Bouassi.
Close to Saudi Arabia and the United States, Geagea is seen by his opponents as "a defiant candidacy." They, including Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, advocate for "a consensus president." At 86, this veteran of Lebanese politics describes himself as "shattered" by the death of his 33-year-long ally, Hassan Nasrallah. He is the only leader who now embodies the interests of the Shiite community, battered by war and burdened by displacement.
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