Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea confirmed reports that ministers from his party may resign from the cabinet in protest against the government’s performance.
The LF considers the appointments and electricity files to be the most contentious issues. Geagea also renewed his objection to the March 8 camp’s ongoing push to normalize ties with the Syrian regime.
Up until this moment, the LF has not taken a final decision regarding the resignation, prompting other political parties to dismiss the warning, said a Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) source.
The LF is threat is “not serious, but it is part of pressure being exerted to deliver a political message,’ it continued.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the government situation is “solid”, saying that officials have resorted to escalating their political rhetoric to make gains ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections.
The government of Prime Minister Saad Hariri was dealt a blow in September when Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil held a meeting in New York with Syrian regime FM Walid al-Muallem. The two officials were in the US to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Earlier this year, a number of Lebanese ministers had paid a visit to Damascus to attend the Damascus International Fair. They explained that they were making the trip on a personal basis, not an official one.
Hariri had however managed to contain any negative repercussions of these developments by coordinating and communicating with President Michel Aoun.
The fate of the government is now being questioned amid the LF claims that its ministers may resign. This is the first time that Geagea openly discussed the issue.
He was present in Melbourne, Australia where he was holding a number of political meetings.
He said: “Resignation is an option if the violations reached the extent of normalizing ties with the Syrian regime.”
