Gemayel backs Salam in push to end Hezbollah’s armed power

Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel voiced strong support Wednesday for Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s recent firm stance on limiting weapons to the Lebanese state, calling it a "courageous" move at a critical time.

In a meeting at the Grand Serail, Gemayel praised Salam’s condemnation of the unauthorized illumination of Beirut’s Pigeon Rocks during a Hezbollah-linked commemoration for its former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, killed by Israel. 

The event was banned by local authorities but still went ahead, prompting Salam to demand accountability for what he called a violation of state authority.

“This is exactly the kind of leadership Lebanon needs right now,” Gemayel said, urging President Joseph Aoun and PM Salam to maintain a united political front. “Only a unified state can end the chaos of armed militias and reclaim Lebanon from two decades of lawlessness.”

The government has since suspended the NGO behind the event, pending investigation. Tensions had surfaced between Salam and Aoun over the army’s inaction during the incident, but Gemayel emphasized the need for solidarity between the state’s top leaders to reinforce the rule of law.

Calling the current political moment a “historic opportunity,” Gemayel reiterated that disarming all militias — with Hezbollah at the center — is essential for rebuilding state institutions, regaining international trust, and reviving the economy.

The two leaders also discussed the upcoming parliamentary elections, particularly the right of Lebanese expatriates to vote for all 128 MPs. Gemayel criticized proposals to limit diaspora representation to just six seats as “incomprehensible.”

The legislative elections are scheduled for May 2026, but key details — especially regarding diaspora participation — remain unresolved.