Samy Gemayel: Lebanon can now decide its future without foreign interference

In a moment hailed as a historic turning point for Lebanon, Samy Gemayel, leader of the Kataeb Party, has warmly welcomed the election of Joseph Aoun as the country’s new President. 

Describing it as a "new page in Lebanon’s history," Gemayel expressed hope that this chapter would be "bright" and that "all nations will stand beside Lebanon to help it rise again."

Gemayel, a Member of Parliament representing the Metn district, praised the inaugural address delivered by the former army commander, marking it as a speech unlike any heard in the past three decades. “This is the first president elected after the war in a Lebanon free from any tutelage. 

That is why his speech is unprecedented in 30 years,” Gemayel stated during a televised interview on Al-Arabiya on Thursday evening.

“I felt immense pride listening to the president deliver his inaugural speech, as though a long-awaited dream for all of us was finally coming true,” he added. Gemayel emphasized that his party would stand "by the president’s side to ensure the success of his national project."

Addressing the sensitive issue of Hezbollah’s weapons arsenal, Gemayel lauded President Aoun's firm stance that "the monopoly on arms must belong solely to the state." He interpreted this as a decisive step signaling Lebanon’s departure from the so-called "Resistance Camp" and its newfound ability to "determine its own destiny without any form of tutelage—Syrian or Iranian."

“For decades, every president was elected either under Syrian tutelage or during a time when Hezbollah controlled decision-making,” Gemayel remarked. He firmly rejected the notion of Lebanon being used as a battleground for regional conflicts. “We categorically refuse that anyone intervenes in Lebanon or uses our country as a missile-launching base, as Iran has done over the past 15 years. This has led to wars for which we paid a heavy price, notably the devastation in the South.”

An Appeal for Arab and International Support

In a call for international solidarity, Gemayel urged the global community—particularly Arab nations—to support Lebanon in its rebuilding efforts. “We want Arab support to continue. We warmly thank all those who have protected Lebanon from the atrocities it has endured. We hope the Arab world will continue to stand with us as we revive reconstruction efforts and set Lebanon back on the path to progress, development, and prosperity.”

He singled out the leadership of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, recognizing the pivotal role Saudi Arabia has played in Lebanon’s regional support network.

The election of Joseph Aoun symbolizes more than just a transfer of power—it marks a break from decades of external interference and internal paralysis. 

For the first time in Lebanon’s recent history, a president has been elected free from the shadows of foreign domination, igniting cautious optimism across the nation.

Samy Gemayel’s remarks reflect the widespread yearning for a sovereign Lebanon, where decisions are driven by national interest rather than foreign agendas. His endorsement of Aoun’s presidency underscores a collective aspiration for stability, security, and the rebuilding of a nation long fractured by political strife and sectarian divisions.