President of the National Dialogue Party, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, met with the leader of the Lebanese Forces Party, Dr. Samir Geagea. Their discussions focused on regional and domestic developments, ways to support the peace process in the region, and efforts to strengthen stability in Lebanon.
Following the meeting, Makhzoumi stated:
“We discussed the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Conference, a historic event held under the auspices of President Donald Trump and with the support of our sister Arab countries, foremost among them Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
This conference represents a genuine opportunity to consolidate peace in the region. Lebanon must play an active role in this process by implementing the ceasefire announced on November 27, 2024, and disarming Hezbollah and all other militias within a defined timeframe. This would enable the state to fully restore its sovereignty over all its territory, allowing Lebanon to embark on a new era of stability and prosperity and rejoin its Arab and international community as an open country actively engaged with its natural regional partners politically, economically, and socially.
On domestic affairs, we believe the government has performed relatively adequately on certain issues. However, it has been slow to implement the fundamental reforms to which it committed in its ministerial statement when we voted to grant it confidence.
The government has fallen behind in implementing its plan to disarm Hezbollah and place all weapons under state control, enacting judicial reforms to guarantee the independence of the judiciary, and carrying out the required financial and economic reforms.
It has also yet to take the necessary steps to curb the cash-based economy, which is sometimes used to finance illegal and militia-related activities, thereby undermining confidence in the state and its institutions.
Regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections, I reaffirm here in Maarab today that holding elections on schedule in 2026 is a sacred right of every Lebanese citizen, because the people alone have the right to decide their future.
Lebanese expatriates must also be granted full voting rights for all 128 members of parliament. Expatriates contribute annual remittances exceeding six billion dollars, representing a substantial share of our national economy. They therefore have every right to participate in deciding their future, the future of their families, and that of generations to come.
We also emphasize the need to establish large voting centers, known as mega-centers, to ensure transparency, facilitate the voting process, and give voters complete freedom to choose their representatives.
Today, Lebanon needs genuine political will to implement international resolutions and engage seriously in the path toward peace and development, in a manner that safeguards its sovereignty, protects the interests of its people, and secures its future on the basis of justice, equality, and openness to its Arab surroundings and the international community.”