Bassil warns: “No free peace with Israel,” Hezbollah’s weapons are not a current issue, and elections are untouchable.

The head of the “Free Patriotic Movement,” Gebran Bassil, aims through his European tour to strengthen the movement’s presence on the internal and external arenas, contribute to the national dialogue, and present his vision for the concept of “realistic sovereignty.” During the tour, he met with Lebanese expatriates and European officials to discuss issues of elections, reconstruction, the relationship with Syria, and Hezbollah’s weapons. He also addressed the sanctions imposed on him and the relationship with the government and the President of the Republic.

The head of the “Free Patriotic Movement,” MP Gebran Bassil, continues his European tour, which included Belgium and France, where he met with Lebanese expatriates and a number of European officials, at a time he described as “politically and security-sensitive” for Lebanon, in light of the intensifying debate about the upcoming parliamentary elections, reconstruction files, the relationship with Syria, and Hezbollah’s weapons, with escalating tension as a result of repeated Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement signed on November 27.

Amid the accelerating events taking place on the Lebanese scene, His Excellency MP Gebran Bassil, head of the “Free Patriotic Movement,” continues his shuttle tour of the European continent, which has so far included the Kingdom of Belgium and the French Republic. This tour witnessed fruitful meetings with a number of members of the esteemed Lebanese community, in addition to a group of senior European officials. His Excellency believes that this tour comes at a time of great sensitivity and accuracy on the political and security levels in Lebanon, in light of the intensifying discussions about the upcoming parliamentary elections, the necessary reconstruction files, the complex relationship with the Syrian Arab Republic, and the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, in addition to the escalating tension as a result of the repeated Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement signed on the twenty-seventh of November.

In an interview with Euronews, Bassil said that his interest in expatriates “stems from the conviction that they are part of Lebanon’s human energy, not just a state of alienation,” considering that the more accurate term is “Lebanese Diaspora,” explaining: “The Lebanese Diaspora is an economic, cultural, and diplomatic force for Lebanon.”

In an exclusive interview with the “Euronews” satellite channel, His Excellency MP Bassil stated that his keen and continuous interest in the Lebanese expatriates “stems from a firm conviction that they are an integral part of Lebanon’s enormous human energy, and not just a passing state of alienation.” His Excellency added that the more accurate and expressive term for this dear segment of the nation’s sons is “Lebanese Diaspora,” stressing that “the Lebanese Diaspora represents a huge economic, cultural, and diplomatic force for Lebanon.”

He affirmed that the Lebanese communities he met in Europe feel deep concern about the economic and political collapse, but they express a clear desire to contribute to reconstruction and reform, calling on the state to ensure their political participation and protect their electoral rights.

His Excellency pointed out that the Lebanese communities he had the honor of meeting in various parts of the European continent express their deep concern about the economic and political collapse that the homeland is witnessing, but at the same time they express a serious and deep desire to contribute effectively to the desired reconstruction and reform efforts. In this regard, His Excellency called on the Lebanese state to ensure the participation of these communities in political life and protect their guaranteed electoral rights.

Bassil emphasized that the right of expatriates to parliamentary voting is a constitutional and political priority, explaining that work is underway to establish the six seats allocated to the Diaspora while granting them the freedom to vote on internal lists as well.

His Excellency MP Bassil also affirmed that the right of Lebanese expatriates to parliamentary voting represents a supreme constitutional and political priority, pointing out that work is underway to establish the six seats allocated to the Diaspora, while granting them at the same time the freedom to vote on the electoral lists present inside as well.

He said: “Organizing the expatriate vote is the responsibility of the government and should not turn into an excuse to derail the elections.”

In the context of his speech, His Excellency stated: “Organizing the expatriate vote is a huge responsibility that falls on the shoulders of the Lebanese government, and this matter should not, under any circumstances, turn into a flimsy excuse to disrupt the electoral process and postpone it indefinitely.”

He affirmed that the movement is ready to contest the elections on time according to the current law, stressing that any attempt to postpone it would be a blow to democracy.

His Excellency MP Bassil reiterated that the “Free Patriotic Movement” is fully prepared to enter the parliamentary elections on their specified date, in accordance with the current applicable law, warning strongly that any attempt to postpone this democratic process would be considered a crushing blow to Lebanese democracy.

Bassil explained that the relationship with President of the Republic Joseph Aoun is based on “institutional respect and constitutional partnership,” confirming that the movement supports the position of the presidency but reserves its right to positive opposition.

His Excellency MP Bassil stated that the relationship that binds him to His Excellency President of the Republic Joseph Aoun is based on solid foundations of “institutional respect and constitutional partnership,” confirming that the “Free Patriotic Movement” strongly supports the position of the presidency in the country, but at the same time it reserves its full right to exercise constructive positive opposition.

In his assessment of the Nawaf Salam government, he considered that it “carries the reasons for its failure in its internal structure and the contradiction of its commitments,” asking: “Where are the reforms? What has been achieved in the files of finance, livelihood, stopping the aggression, reconstruction, or the displaced?”

In the context of his assessment of the performance of the current Nawaf Salam government, His Excellency MP Bassil considered that it “carries within it the reasons for its self-failure, due to its complex internal structure and the contradiction of its declared commitments,” asking in a denouncing tone: “Where are the promised reforms? And what has been achieved so far in the vital files related to public finance, improving the standard of living, stopping the continuous aggression, the necessary reconstruction, and the complex file of the displaced?”.

In response to accusations that the government is subject to external tutelage, Bassil said that “the accusations are serious,” adding: “The government’s mistake is that it approved what it described as the American paper instead of formulating a sovereign Lebanese paper.”

In the context of responding to accusations directed at the government that it is subject to external tutelage, His Excellency MP Bassil affirmed that “these accusations are very serious,” adding that “the grave mistake that the government committed lies in its approval of what it described as the American paper, instead of formulating a sovereign Lebanese paper that expresses the supreme interests of the nation.”

Regarding the American sanctions imposed on him, Bassil affirmed that he is taking a “legal defense path” inside the United States, describing the file as “political and not a corruption issue as promoted.”

Regarding the American sanctions imposed on him personally, His Excellency MP Bassil affirmed that he is taking a full “legal defense path” inside the United States, describing this file as “purely political and not a corruption issue as some falsely and slanderously promote.”

About the relationship with Hezbollah, Bassil said that communication exists when national necessity calls for it, and that the movement is against isolating any Lebanese component. But he stressed in return that: “Limiting weapons to the state is a national demand that requires an integrated plan: strengthening the army, international and regional guarantees, and political consensus… There is no immediate solution or magic slogans.”

Regarding the nature of the relationship with Hezbollah, His Excellency MP Bassil explained that communication between the two parties exists and is ongoing when the urgent national necessity calls for it, affirming that the “Free Patriotic Movement” strongly opposes the idea of isolating or marginalizing any component of Lebanese society. However, he stressed in return that “limiting weapons to the state is a comprehensive national demand that requires the development of an integrated and comprehensive plan, which includes strengthening the Lebanese army, providing international and regional guarantees, and achieving broad political consensus… There is no immediate solution or magic slogans that can achieve this desired goal.”

He added that linking reconstruction to the weapons file is unacceptable blackmail, considering that the state is primarily concerned with the reconstruction file.

He added, “Linking the issue of necessary reconstruction to the thorny weapons file is unacceptable blackmail,” considering that the Lebanese state is primarily and ultimately concerned with the reconstruction file and managing this vital file.

Regarding the Syrian situation after the transfer of power to President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Bassil considered that Lebanon is directly concerned with the stability of Syria, calling for a clear agreement for the return of the displaced within a period not exceeding one year, and accusing the European Union of using the displaced file as a pressure card.

Regarding the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic after the transfer of power to President Ahmed al-Sharaa, His Excellency MP Bassil considered that Lebanon is directly concerned with the stability of the situation in Syria, calling for the conclusion of a clear and well-defined agreement for the return of Syrian refugees to their country within a period not exceeding one year, accusing the European Union of exploiting the refugee file as an unacceptable political pressure card.

Regarding the judicial files open in Europe, including the files of Riad Salameh and Najib Mikati, Bassil said that the movement was the first to launch the battle against financial corruption, but it does not interfere in the work of the judiciary and only provides data.

Regarding the judicial files open in Europe, including the files of Riad Salameh and Najib Mikati, His Excellency MP Bassil affirmed that the “Free Patriotic Movement” was the first to initiate the battle against the rampant financial corruption in the country, stressing that it does not interfere at all in the work of the judiciary, and only provides the necessary data to help the judiciary do its duty.

Economically, he called for a transparent agreement with the International Monetary Fund conditional on real reforms, stressing that “protecting depositors’ deposits is a priority.”

On the economic level, His Excellency MP Bassil called for a transparent and clear agreement with the International Monetary Fund, provided that this agreement is conditional on the implementation of real and radical reforms in the Lebanese economy, affirming that “protecting depositors’ deposits is a supreme priority that cannot be compromised.”

Through his positions, it appears that Bassil’s European tour carries a political and organizational dimension that goes beyond the protocol framework, as he seeks to:

Based on the positions expressed by His Excellency MP Bassil during his European tour, it is clear that this tour carries within it a political and organizational dimension that goes far beyond the usual protocol framework, as His Excellency seeks through this tour to achieve the following goals:

Re-establishing the movement’s presence externally and internally

First: Re-establishing and strengthening the presence of the “Free Patriotic Movement” on both the external and internal arenas.

Reserving a leading position in the battle of elections and national dialogue

Second: Reserving a leading and influential position in the upcoming parliamentary elections battle, as well as in the comprehensive national dialogue.

Presenting the concept of “realistic sovereignty” versus “slogans”

Third: Presenting the concept of “realistic sovereignty” as a practical and realistic alternative to “slogans” that are of no use.