Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea’s Instagram account was hacked Monday, according to a statement released by the party’s office.
According to An-Nahar, the unidentified hackers “asked for a ransom in exchange for the return of the account.”
The former militia leader’s Instagram account’s bio read, “This account has been hacked.” There was also a post of an unknown male with text that read, “Black hat: hacking in the real world.”
Screenshot posted by An-Nahar.
This comes nearly a month after the Lebanese Forces were able to win 15 parliamentary seats, almost doubling the amount of their party members in parliament.
Samir Geagea most recently lashed out at President Aoun’s decree granting Lebanese citizenship to over 400 foreigners, most of whom are wealthy Syrians.
The Lebanese Forces, Progressive Socialist Party, and Kataeb Party issued a joint statement urging Lebanese President Michel Aoun to nullify his controversial decree granting Lebanese citizenship to over 400 foreigners.
The decree grants Lebanese nationality to mostly wealthy Syrians, some of which are considered close to the Syrian regime, the Daily Star reports.
In the statement, the parties called on the President to “abrogate the decree” and later added that a reasonable decree would include special cases only.
“(A reasonable decree) includes people with very special cases and have specific humanitarian conditions that are consistent with the Lebanese Constitution provisions and the criteria for granting the Lebanese citizenship,” the statement added.
Kataeb MP Sami Gemayel requested the Lebanese Interior Minister release “full text and names” so that “we can study it and give an opinion about it in order to take any legal or constitutional steps we need to.”
Lebanese Foreign Minister-elect Gebran Bassil defended the naturalization decree, saying the President and the foreign ministry are “not involved in any suspicious acts regarding the controversial naturalization decree,” wires reported.
Although Saad Hariri is a part of the March 14 alliance with the LF, PSP and Kataeb, he sided with Aoun and signed the controversial decree into law.
(DETROIT) — Lebanese Forces MP Shant Chinchinian on Saturday called for immediate presidential elections in Lebanon during keynote remarks at the Lebanese Forces Michigan Chapter twentieth annual banquet in Detroit.
Chinchinian, who is visiting the United States for his second time, said the political situation in Lebanon would improve if a president is elected. He believes protest groups in Beirut should set fixed demands that urge leaders to stop boycotting presidential sessions.
“Our candidate is still Dr. Samir Geagea,” Chinchinian told Lebanese Examiner during an exclusive interview. “But we are open to discussion later on; we are not set on (Geagea) as an obstacle that makes him president, or nobody else.”
The Lebanese Forces banquet drew about 250 people, mostly supporters of the March 14 Alliance, which is largely comprised of leaders from the Future Movement, Lebanese Forces, and Kataeb Party.
Christian Nasr, secretary general of the Lebanese Forces in North America, also traveled to Detroit for the banquet, which was held at the hall of Life Application Ministries Church – the former location of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church.
Chinchinian appeared on Sunday in Sterling Heights at Bemis Junior High School, the temporary location of St. Sharbel Church, for a mass to “honor and remember Lebanese Forces martyrs.”
Chinchinian, who is from Zahle, is a graduate of the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom, where he studied international policy and security, according to his CV.
Zahle is home to one of the largest populations of Syrian refugees in the world — an issue that Chinchinian said requires international intervention.
“For a small country like Lebanon, it was very difficult to receive this number of refugees,” he said. “(The Lebanese Forces) demanded that refugee camps should be set up within Syria.”
Chinchinian said during the Lebanese Civil War, only a small percentage of Lebanese citizens became refugees. He believes “internal displacement” is a better solution.
“I think the best solution for everybody is to prepare safe zones within Syria, non-military zones, that could house the refugees,” he added.
These concerns add a “burden” on the Lebanese economy and make electricity, water, and waste removal even more difficult, he believes. The matter of garbage has prompted historic protests in Beirut over corruption and political dysfunction.
Secular protest groups have prompted international attention and increased public anger over the garbage crisis — concerns that Chinchinian said are “rightful.”
“The protests started with rightful demands,” Chinchinian said. “Almost all the Lebanese agree with these demands — from electricity, to water, and mainly the garbage situation that is unbearable.”
However, he added that protesters should remain peaceful and defy violence committed by hostile crowds. Protesters argue that police brutality, not the protest groups, has naturally led to escalated violence.
“It’s easy to regret something and to put the blame on somebody else,” he said. “It’s in the duty of the groups that are demonstrating to control the demonstration and to have clear and limited goals.”
Chinchinian added that he met with the environmental parliamentary committee in Lebanon prior to his trip to Detroit. He believes the plan proposed under the direction of Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayeb is viable.
The plan – announced after six hours of deliberation between the Lebanese cabinet – aims to decentralize waste management by giving municipalities the responsibility.
“This is the only plan; there are no other solutions,” he said. “I think the municipalities will accept it in the end.”
Lebanese Forces President John Moussawer (left) and Lebanese Forces Secretary General Christian (far right) Nasr present MP Shant Chinchinian (center) with an award from the Lebanese Forces Michigan Chapter on Sept. 19, 2015. (Charlie Kadado/Lebanese Examiner)Lebanese MP Shant Chinchinian speaks to Lebanese Forces supporters at the political group’s Michigan chapter twentieth annual banquet on Sept. 19, 2015. (Charlie Kadado/Lebanese Examiner)MP Shant Chinchinian attends a mass to “honor Lebanese Forces martyrs” at Bemis Junior High School in Sterling Heights, Mich. – the temporary location of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church on September 20, 2015. (Charlie Kadado/Lebanese Examiner)Subdeacon Mike Magyar speaks on the “legacy of Bachir Gemayel” during a mass at Bemis Junior High School in Sterling Heights, Mich. – the temporary location of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church. (Charlie Kadado/Lebanese Examiner)Lebanese Forces Michigan Chapter President John Moussawer (center) and Lebanese Forces Secretary General in North American Christian Nasr (right) attend a mass at Bemis Junior High School in Sterling Heights, Mich. – the temporary location of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church on September 20, 2015. (Charlie Kadado/Lebanese Examiner)
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(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanon’s two main Christian political leaders held a historic meeting on Tuesday, in an effort to find common ground among two enemies whose rivalry has lasted for decades.
Michel Aoun and Samir Geagea, who fought each other during the Lebanese Civil War from 1975-1990, are both candidates for the Lebanese presidency which has been vacant since Michel Sleiman’s term expired a year ago.
But the rare meeting, which was held at Aoun’s home in Rabieh, left political quarrels behind and instead focused on a landmark declaration of intent between the two rivals.
Aoun and Geagea prepare to speak to the media during a joint press conference at Aoun’s home in Rabieh on June 2, 2015. (Photo: Aldo Ayoub)
The Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement parties have been in talks for months now, ushered by FPM MP Ibrahim Kanaan and LF media officer Melhem Riachi.
Aoun called the meeting a “gift” to Lebanese Christians who were concerned about the political and security climate in Lebanon.
“The decision is in our hands and not in the hands of any other party,” Aoun said, referring to the influence of the regional power-players Iran and Saudi Arabia.
The agreement on a new president is widely seen as a broader deal requiring a Saudi-Iranian blessing.
Aoun is an ally of the Shiite Iranian-backed Hezbollah, while Geagea backs the Sunni Saudi-backed politician Saad Hariri.
The two leaders issued a joint statement calling for the election of a “strong president” which would be supported by a majority Christian population and capable of working with Lebanon’s other religious sects.
The declaration of intent was negotiated between FPM MP Ibrahim Kanaan and LF media officer Melhem Riachi. (Photo: Aldo Ayoub)
Geagea said the purpose of his visit to Aoun’s home was to gather the two main Christian parties to discuss the ongoing political climate for Christians in the country. He said he “wished the meeting took place 30 years ago.”
“(LF and FPM) are two political forces which — if they agree — can have a positive impact on Lebanon,” Geagea said in comments published by the Lebanese National News Agency. “Our meeting today is the beginning of dialogue, because the previous months witnessed preparations that paved the ground for this meeting.”
The declaration of intent calls for peaceful interaction between the two parties, including mutual support to “principles of sovereignty” and “the approach of dialogue.”
“The two parties agree to strengthen state institutions and resort to the law to resolve any sudden dispute. They agree not to resort to arms or violence and to support the army because it is the institution that can preserve sovereignty and national security,” the declaration of intent reads in-part.
Aoun and Geagea echoed support for coexistence among Lebanon’s religious groups, including an electoral law that respects equal power-sharing between Muslims and Christians.
Geagea visited FPM leader Michel Aoun at his home in Rabieh on June 2, 2015. (Photo: Aldo Ayoub)
On the issue of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, both parties called Israel an “enemy” and called for a two-state solution. They also issued a mutual statement rejecting the naturalization of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
The agreement also mentions the Syrian crisis and its impact on Lebanon, adding that they will “not allow” the Lebanese border to be used for the smuggling of militants.
“We call for finding a solution to the Syrian refugee crisis, which is a time bomb at all levels and we call for securing their return to safe areas in Syria,” the document said.
The agreement also made a brief mention of Lebanese emigrants, adding that the two rivals will exert “joint efforts” to approve laws that protect property ownership and naturalization of Lebanese emigrants.
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(DETROIT, MI) — The Lebanese Forces Detroit Chapter announced the election of a new president under new international bylaws passed and approved by the Lebanese Forces headquarters in Lebanon.
Former President Tony Malouf was succeeded by local business owner John Moussawer during a general meeting held at St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church in Warren, Mich. on March 8.
The group’s bylaws changed since Malouf’s election in 2010 after the party headquarters in Lebanon announced they were altering articles of elections by “making them more democratic,” according to a news release.
“We’re building this true democratic political party in the Middle East,” said Tarek Madi, vice president of the Lebanese Forces Detroit Chapter. “We have the new bylaws, the new system now and the elections happened in November, but we were waiting for Lebanon to approve.”
Madi said the newly elected board plans to host social and political events that “give back to both the Lebanese Christian and Muslim communities.”
“We’re going to have monthly political meetings and work with American congressmen and host fundraisers for them,” Madi said. “We will also continue to host members of parliament from Lebanon.”
Moussawer previously served as Lebanese Forces president from 2006 to 2010, according to Madi. His term will last four years.
LebaneseExaminer.com is an independent news organization, free of any allegiance to political parties, movements, candidates, or causes.
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(WARREN, MI) — The Lebanese Forces Michigan Chapter recently hosted a memorial mass for Bachir Gemayel, Lebanese politician, militia commander, and president-elect, who was assassinated on September 14, 1982 at the age of 34.
The mass was held at Saint Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church in Warren, Michigan.
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The Lebanese Forces Detroit Chapter met for their monthly general meeting on Saturday. Following the meeting, the organization hosted a member barbecue and gathering.
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(WARREN, MI) — The Lebanese Forces Detroit Chapter met for their monthly general meeting on Saturday. Following the meeting, the organization hosted a member barbecue and gathering.
President Tony Malouf announced the conclusion of his term this upcoming October. He encouraged current members to consider running for what he called a “very rewarding” position.
The group also began the planning stages for the Lebanese Forces Detroit Annual Banquet and Scholarship Dinner, which will take place on September 20.
The Lebanese Forces members also discussed the ongoing political turmoil in Lebanon, after the country plunged into a presidential void on May 25. Former President Michel Sleiman’s term ended without a successor, leaving no candidate able to garner enough votes to win the election.
“It’s a sad time for people in and outside of Lebanon. The number one post belongs to the Christians and unfortunately, some of the Christians along with the March 8 movement are boycotting the election,” Malouf said. “They wont nominate anyone from their side to go against the nominee from March 14 and they won’t attend and vote for anyone.”
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea challenged his Christian rival MP Michel Aoun to run against him in the next presidential election on Wednesday. Members of the Lebanese Forces in Detroit say they have moved beyond party lines, now they just want a new president.
“Lebanese Forces wants for all Lebanese to come and do their duties, nominate and elect a president. We don’t want a vacancy in the Christian post.”
LebaneseExaminer.com does not affiliate, endorse, or support any political organization, group, sect, or institution. We simply report on community events, which may include political coverage.
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BEIRUT: The Change and Reform bloc headed by MP Michel Aoun will cast a blank ballot during Wednesday’s Parliament session to elect a new president as the presumed candidates have yet to secure a two-thirds majority.
“We will attend tomorrow’s Parliament session and we will cast a blank ballot,” MP Emile Rahme told reporters after a bloc meeting chaired by Aoun in Rabieh.
While the former Army general has said he would only run for the country’s top Christian post as a “consensus candidate,” his rival, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea announced his candidacy earlier this month.
Meanwhile, MP Walid Jumblatt said his National Struggle Front bloc nominated MP Henry Helou for the post, describing the Aley lawmaker as a “voice of moderation.”
Speaking to reporters after his bloc’s meeting, Jumblatt denied Helou’s nomination was a “political maneuver,” saying he believed his lawmaker can help safeguard the country.
Only Geagea and MP Robert Ghanem have announced their candidacy for the presidency although Lebanon has entered its two-month constitutional deadline to elect a new head of state.
President Michel Sleiman’s six-year term ends on May 25.
None of the candidates including those who consider themselves natural nominees such as Auon and Kataeb head Amin Gemayel have yet worked to secure two thirds majority for the first round of the parliamentary sessions.
In a clear sign Gemayel would not enter the presidential race as announced last week, MP Elie Marounie said Kataeb lawmakers would attend the legislative session and vote in favor of Geagea.
A Lebanese Forces delegation headed by MP Strida Geagea handed Speaker Nabih Berri a copy of presidential hopeful Geagea’s platform during a meeting in Ain el-Tineh.
Geagea said the speaker praised her husband’s agenda, saying the LF expected its head to do well in Wednesday’s session.
“We expect Geagea to get no less than 50 votes for the first round of election… we have 37 votes from the Future bloc, eight votes from the Lebanese Forces along with several other independent lawmakers,” the MP told reporters after the meeting.
“As a March 14 coalition, we insist on having a single candidate. Our candidate, as March 14 forces, is Geagea and it is too early to talk about other options,” she added.
She also thanked Telecoms Minister Butros Harb, once thought to be a presidential hopeful, for contacting Geagea and voicing support for his candidacy.
Earlier in the day, Berri held talks with MP Michel Murr, head of the Lebanese Democratic Party MP Talal Arslan as well as Health Minister Wael Abu Faour who headed a delegation from Jumblatt.
Murr said he along with MP Nayla Tueni would attend Wednesday’s morning session, adding that he expected quorum.
“I will check with my conscious and Lebanon’s interest and then I will elect a president on that basis,” Murr told reporters after the meeting in Ain el-Tineh.
Berri also spoke to Arslan and the PSPS delegation about the presidential election.
The speaker also met with a delegation from Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya headed by MP Imad Hout.
Several blocs have already confirmed their attendance of Wednesday’s session including lawmakers from Jumblatt and Berri’s blocs.
MP Robert Ghanem who visited Geagea and Maronite Cardinal Beshara Rai Tuesday said he was running for the election because he was a consensus candidate.
“I announced my candidacy on the basis that I am a consensus president. According to Article 49, the president is the head of the nation’s unit and works for its institutions,” Ghanem told reporters after his meeting with Geagea in Maarab.
“When I announced I was running, I was convinced that the power of moderation is the effective power that can restore state institutions,” he added.
Future MP Ahmad Fatfat also met with Rai and ruled out the possibility of Lebanon plunging into a presidential vacuum.
Source: The Daily Star
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Al-Mustaqbal bloc announced on Monday its “full support” to the leader of the Lebanese Forces in his presidential bid, as LF delegates continued their visits to parties and parliamentary blocs over Samir Geagea’s run for office.
“We announce our full support to Samir Geagea in his run for presidency,” al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Ahmed Fatfat stated after talks with LF delegates.
Fatfat added that Geagea’s presidential program “responds to the needs of the Lebanese people, to their aspirations and to their longing for strengthening the state’s sovereignty, and restoring its prestige and role.”
LF MP George Adwan praised al-Mustaqbal bloc’s stance, considering it a “major step.”
He also assured that “all March 14 blocs are committed to attending the scheduled parliamentary session on Wednesday to elect a new president.”
“We will have a unified stance before Wednesday’s parliamentary session,” he revealed.
Simultaneously, another LF delegation met with Prime Minister Tammam Salam in the Beirut neighborhood of Msaytbeh to hand him Geagea’s presidential program.
MP Sethrida Geagea reiterated after the talks that March 14 will have one presidential candidate, noting that a positive atmosphere has prevailed so far in the envoys’ meetings with local figures and parliamentary blocs.
Earlier in the day, MP Geagea handed Kataeb Party chief Amin Gemayel the presidential program of the LF leader, stressing also the unity of the March 14 alliance regarding the presidential polls.
She said after meeting Gemayel at the Kataeb’s headquarters in Saifi in Beirut: “The March 14 alliance will be united in its stand over the elections.”
“The alliance will stand behind one candidate when it heads to the parliamentary session on Wednesday,” she told reporters.
Geagea described her meeting with Gemayel as positive, saying that the two sides highlighted the importance of the elections.
MP Geagea then met Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, handing him a copy of the LF chief’s presidential program.
Jumblat confirmed after the talks that he will attend Wednesday’s parliamentary session, saying however that he will declare his stance on the polls on Tuesday.
OTV revealed later that the National Struggle Front will convene tomorrow at 5:30 pm to discuss the presidential elections.
Meanwhile, another LF delegation met on Monday afternoon with National Liberal Party leader MP Dory Chamoun and the Jamaa Islamiya.
“We agreed on the importance of holding the presidential elections on time,” LF MP Antoine Zahra said after meeting with Chamoun, remarking that the March 14 coalition agrees on Geagea’s presidential program.
The two-member delegation, which included Geagea’s adviser Wehbe Qatisha in addition to Zahra, then visited the headquarters of the Jamaa Islamiya in Beirut where it held talks with MP Imad al-Hout and the party’s political bureau chief Wael Najm.
LF delegates also met with former premier Najib Miqati and they are scheduled to meet with Speaker Nabih Berri to hand him a copy of the presidential program.
The party’s envoys had met with President Michel Suleiman, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun for the same purpose.
Geagea is the only political leader to so far announce his nomination for the elections.
Parliament is scheduled to convene on Wednesday in order to hold the polls amid concerns that the needed quorum will not be met.
Commenting on this possibility, MP Geagea said: “All lawmakers are obligated to exercise their duties and attend the session.”
Source: Naharnet
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