NNA - Head of the Lebanese Kataeb Party, MP Sami Gemayel, revealed that contacts are still ongoing with a number of parties.

Gemayel expressed his hope that he would clarify the party's point of view to officials in France, because he considers that Lebanon needs France's support for it, its sovereignty, independence and free decision, and rejects any dictates to the Lebanese deputies and people and that the people decide their fate, indicating that "Lebanon will not surrender again to Iran or Syria or Hezbollah.

"We want the decision to return to the Lebanese, to the Baabda Palace and the Parliament, and we do not want it to be dependent on anyone," he added.

Regarding the change in the French position on supporting the leader of the Marada movement, Suleiman Franjieh, after the statement of the French Foreign Ministry, the Kataeb leader said: “I think that the French are realistic and trying to find a solution to the Lebanese dilemma. It contributed to clarifying our point of view. I believe that the French who are keen on Lebanon as a mediator do not impose on us nor decide on our behalf, but rather try to mediate or take the initiative to solve the problem. They will realize that the solution does not go through handing over the state's decision to Hezbollah."

Commenting on the French statement that the problem lies in the opposition’s lack of agreement on a candidate and on the possibility of an agreement between the Kataeb, the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement on a presidential approach, and if he met Representative Simon Abi Ramia who is in Paris, he said: “The matter is not on the table and the opposition is coordinating with each other and I do not think that  The movement has become in the opposition, this is new to me and I hear it for the first time. As an opposition, we meet among ourselves in the hope that the movement and everyone will join us in the real demand for the liberation of Lebanon and the liberation of its decision. We will communicate with all deputies to convince them of our point of view, as this is our duty in these circumstances. "

When asked if he would repeat these positions in a second meeting with the French President's advisor for Near Eastern affairs, Patrick Dorrell, he said: "God willing."