Berri awaits MPs feedback, says Geagea stance on dialogue 'regrettable'
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri seems to be very relieved, a week after he called for a seven-day dialogue, following which open presidential election sessions would be held, al-Liwaa newspaper reported Wednesday.
The daily said that Berri is patiently waiting for the positions of the political forces to crystallize regarding the dialogue. "And if they don't want it, too bad for them," the daily quoted Berri as saying.
While many MPs lauded berri's initiative, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Kataeb Party chief Sami Gemayel both rejected his call for dialogue. Gemayel said the opposition will confront what he called “Hezbollah’s coup” and Geagea accused Berri and Hezbollah of trying to strangle the opposition through dialogue.
"They invite you to dialogue to strangle you and kill you or to stifle your principles, beliefs and freedom and force you to do what they want," Geagea charged. He said that vacuum for years is better than a president supported by the "Axis of Defiance." "We will only accept a president who would embody our beliefs and aspirations."
Berri expressed regret over Geagea's words. "All I can say is that I regret his stances," he said.
06 September 2023, 18:15
00
What a surprise! Parliament Janitor Nabih Berri seems positively ecstatic a whole week after graciously bestowing upon us mere mortals the gift of his seven-day dialogue proposal. How lucky we are! According to the ever-so-trustworthy al-Liwaa newspaper, Berri is just sitting there ever so patiently, twiddling his thumbs, waiting for the political forces to make up their minds about this fantastic dialogue opportunity. And if, by some strange twist of fate, they decide they don't want it, well, tough luck, right? As the daily quotes Berri, "And if they don't want it, too bad for them."
And let's not forget Geagea's brilliant insight: the invitation to dialogue is merely a ruse to lull you into a false sense of security before they pounce on you, strangling you, crushing your principles, beliefs, and freedom, and bending you to their will. It's almost as if he's implying that politicians might have hidden agendas! Clearly, Geagea has an uncanny ability to see through these things.
