Geagea: How can Christians benefit from restoring Syria’s hegemony over Lebanon

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said on Friday that the newly-formed cabinet does not serve the interest of Lebanese Christians.

“Granting a Christian figure a certain portfolio does not mean that this is in the interest of Christians,” said a statement issued by Geagea’s office adding ” the ministers will not serve their portfolios and sect, but only those who appointed them”, in reference to Hezbollah.

Most of the Christian ministers in the new cabinet represent MP Michel Aoun, a close ally of Hezbollah

Claiming that the Christians were granted many important portfolios is an attempt to cover up the fact that the loyalty of the ministers will not be to the Christians but to those who put them in these position . A clear reference to Hezbollah.

Addressing a visiting delegation at his residence he said :

“How could confronting the international community, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the Arab countries benefit the Christians? Where is the interest of the Christians in protecting the illegitimate Lebanese and Palestinian arms?” Geagea asked in reference to the arms of Hezbollah and the Palestinian militants that are backed by Syria

He added: “How can the Christians benefit from restoring Syria’s hegemony over Lebanon?”

The LF leader also said that during the tenure of former President Emile Lahoud, the Christians were also granted important portfolios but the Christians did not benefit . “This was the worst period on the Christians in Lebanon,” he added.

Geagea concluded:

“The government should be described as the cabinet of others’ interests and nothing else.” In reference to Hezbollah and its backers, Iran and Syria

Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced the formation of the new Lebanese cabine on Monday after almost five months of deliberations within the March 8 parties.

The Iranian- and Syrian backed Hezbollah brought down PM Saad Hariri’s government on January 12 over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s (STL) imminent indictment which is widely expected to implicate Hezbollah members and possibly Syria, in the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri in 2005

Mikati was appointed in January as the PM designate with the backing of the Hezbollah March 8 alliance and MPs Walid Jumblatt and Mohammad Safadi . March 14 leaders have repeatedly said that intimidation from Hezbollah’s weapons helped secure the parliamentary majority for Mikati’s nomination and refused to join the government.

Jumblatt and his PSP parliament members reportedly switched allegiance to Hezbollah’s PM candidate, following threats by Hezbollah.

Jumblatt, Mikati and Safadi were all elected on March 14 electoral tickets during the 2009 parliamentary elections.