Geagea avows Mirna Shalouhi incident will not be repeated, says Shiite demand to assume ministry of finance harms French initiative

18/09/2020

Lebanon-- "Lebanese Forces" party leader, Samir Geagea, said in a press conference he held earlier on Friday in Meerab that France did not aim to resolve the Lebanese crisis, but rather more to ease the increasing burdens that have been incessantly weighing down the Lebanese people.

"The equation is simple; what is required is a different government that implements reforms so that France can invite Lebanon's friends to a conference to raise funds," Geagea said, adding that Macron has consistently stressed the need for the Lebanese political parties to sit aside and give room for the formation of an emergency "rescue government".

Touching on Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib's efforts to form a new cabinet, Geagea affirmed that what his political party cared most for was the end result. "If we find that there are cabinet names that do not match with the required specifications, we will reject them; yet, it is not permissible for some to say that Adib has not consulted with all sides alike to form a cabinet," he added.

Moreover, he expressed belief that the Shiite duo's insistence to assume the Ministry of Finance's portfolio only "harms the French initiative and strikes it to the core."

In response to a question, Geagea deemed Mirna Al-Shalouhi's incident a thing from the past that won't be repeated. "We will do everything we can to prevent its recurrence. Problems can even occur between brothers and sisters," he added.

Geagea concluded by saying that everyone was trying to dissuade Adib from refraining from his task to form a cabinet. "If he [Adib] steps down, we will enter a long [dark] tunnel. Our fate, if the French initiative fails, will be further collapse -- void of reforms and aid."