Editing Samir Geagea (section)

== Current political activity ==
[[File:Samir Geagea (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Samir Geagea]]
On the Lebanese political scene, Geagea and the LF are considered to be the main Christian component of the 14 March Alliance.<ref name="LP">{{Cite book|edition=3|publisher= Lonely Planet|isbn= 978-1-74104-609-0|page=436|last=Carter|first=Terry|author2=Lara Dunston |author3=Amelia Thomas |title= Syria and Lebanon|year=2008}}</ref>

In September 2008, Geagea pronounced in front of thousands of rallying supporters in [[Jounieh]] a historical apology.<ref name="Lang"/> The apology read:

{{blockquote|I fully apologize for all the mistakes that we committed when we were carrying out our national duties during past civil war years,... I ask God to forgive, and so I ask the people whom we hurt in the past.<ref name="dailys">{{Cite news |last=Abdallah|first=Hussein|title=Geagea apologizes for LF's wartime 'mistakes'|newspaper=The Daily Star|access-date=11 July 2009|date=22 August 2008|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=96198}}</ref>}}

Internationally, Geagea tried to renew his relations with influential countries such as the [[United States]] and [[France]]. On 19 March 2007, he met then French president [[Jacques Chirac]] in the [[Élysée Palace]].<ref>[http://www.assafir.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=2076&EditionId=592&ChannelId=12833 Geagea meets Chirac (in Arabic)]. ''As-Safir Newspaper'', 20 March 2007. Retrieved on 26 February 2008.</ref> In March 2008, he held talks in the US with officials at the [[White House]], including then [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Condoleezza Rice]], then [[National Security Advisor (United States)|NSA]] [[Stephen Hadley]] and then chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia [[Gary Ackerman]].<ref>[http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/0/76E6E6A2D31B9A67C225740A003B6355?OpenDocument Geagea from Washington: We Focused on Protection of Lebanon]. ''Naharnet Newsdesk'', 12 March 2008. Retrieved on 30 May 2008.</ref>

A [[List of material published by WikiLeaks|2015 leak of documents]] from [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Saudi Arabia)|Saudi Arabia's Foreign Affairs Ministry]] revealed that Geagea had asked for money to pay for bodyguards and boasted of his "preparedness to do whatever the kingdom asks of him."<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Hubbard|first=Ben|title=MBS: The Rise to Power of Mohammed Bin Salman|publisher=Tim Duggan Books|year=2020}}</ref>

The Lebanese Forces made gains in the 15 May 2022 general [[2022 Lebanese general election|elections]]. It became the largest Christian party in Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chehayeb |first1=Kareem |title=Hezbollah allies projected to suffer losses in Lebanon elections |language=en |work=www.aljazeera.com |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/16/hezbollah-allies-projected-to-lose-seats-lebanese-parliamentary-elections}}</ref>

=== Assassination attempt (2012) ===
On 4 April 2012, at approximately 11:30 am, gunshots were heard in Geagea's Maarab complex. Geagea's security forces scouted the area, and found shells belonging to a 12.7 caliber sniper rifle, a high-tech rifle produced only by the United States and/or Russia, not available in the Lebanese infantries, the Lebanese Armed Forces or the black market, suggesting that the gun could only be obtained by one powerful party.  Speculators claim the perpetrators to be pro-Syrian forces, most likely Hezbollah. Account of the story, as described in the press conference immediately following the attempt, claim Geagea to have been walking outside in the garden surrounding his mansion. Geagea bent over to pick up a flower, while bent over, Geagea heard gunshots, and immediately lay low on the ground, while his security forces took care of the situation. At the location where the shot would have killed him, two bullets had pierced through the wall. They claim the shooters to have been at least a kilometer away, stationed west of the residence (but the body guards were unable to see them due to the thick trees), and the operation to have been planned for months to silence Geagea, the only strong vocal critic against the Syrian/Iranian forces and the incumbent government. The Lebanese security forces have uncovered that a nine-member assassination team divided into three groups was involved in the killing attempt; two of the three groups were in charge of firing on Geagea.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Accounts of Samir Geagea's Assassination Attempt|newspaper=Naharnet|access-date=4 April 2012|date=4 April 2012|url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/35709-geagea-confirms-assassination-attempt-we-won-t-halt-our-revolution-no-matter-how-hard-they-try}}</ref>

The [[United States]] condemned the assassination attempt.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/04/187502.htm|title=Assassination Attempt Against Samir Geagea}}</ref>

=== Candidacy for presidency (2014) ===
In 2014, Geagea declared his candidacy for the Lebanese presidential elections to succeed President [[Michel Suleiman]], whose 6-year term was to end on 25 May 2014. Geagea enjoyed the comprehensive political backing of the [[March 14 Alliance]] for the presidency.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/is-samir-geagea-the-next-president-of-lebanon-1.1314397|title=Is Samir Geagea the next president of Lebanon?|website=gulfnews.com|date=4 April 2014 }}</ref> [[Free Patriotic Movement]]'s MP Michel Aoun said that he would insist on holding the parliamentary election on schedule if [[Future Movement]]'s [[Saad Hariri]] did not support his candidacy for the presidency or if a new president will not be elected before September.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aoun wants either Hariri's support or Parliament elections |work=[[The Daily Star (Lebanon)|The Daily Star]] |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/May-30/258219-aoun-wants-either-hariris-support-or-parliament-elections.ashx |access-date=20 July 2014}}</ref> Geagea challenged Aoun to run against him or move to a "plan B" that would enable a consensual candidate that is not considered partisan as being from either of the two political alliances, which, in addition to the two, are [[Kataeb Party|Phalange]]'s Amine Gemayel and [[Marada Movement]]'s Suleiman Frangieh.<ref>{{cite web |date=29 May 2014 |title=Geagea challenges Aoun to run against him or move to plan B |url=http://yalibnan.com/2014/05/29/geagea-challenges-aoun-run-move-plan-b/ |access-date=20 July 2014 |publisher=Ya Libnan}}</ref>

After the sixth round of voting failed, [[Lebanese Democratic Party]] leader [[Talal Arslan]] suggested that the president should be directly elected by the people. In doing so, he said: "The presidential crisis is a major insult to the Lebanese nation. {{sic}} The only way to save the nation and restore respect to the presidency is by holding the election directly by the people."<ref>{{cite news |title=President should be elected by the people: Arslan |work=[[The Daily Star (Lebanon)|The Daily Star]] |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Jun-09/259427-president-should-be-elected-by-the-people-arslan.ashx |access-date=20 July 2014}}</ref> Lebanese Forces MP [[Antoine Zahra (legislator)|Antoine Zahra]] added that Geagea remained the party's candidate.

However, the country entered into a 2 years presidential deadlock, which ended in 2016,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fitchratings.com/research/sovereigns/lebanon-ends-presidential-deadlock-lasting-consensus-key-02-11-2016|title=Lebanon Ends Presidential Deadlock; Lasting Consensus Key|access-date=2021-02-14|website=www.fitchratings.com}}</ref> with Geagea backing up his longtime rival Michel Aoun for the presidency after fellow March 14 member [[Saad al Hariri]] had decided to back March 8 candidate [[Suleiman Frangieh Jr]]<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-lebanon-idUSKCN0UW24V | title=Geagea reshapes Lebanese politics, backs rival Aoun | first=Tom | last=Perry | date=18 January 2016 | publisher=Reuters| access-date=28 June 2018 }}</ref> through the [[Maarab Agreement|Maarab Accord]]. Aoun was elected president, ending more than two years of [[2014–2016 Lebanese presidential election|presidential vacuum]].

=== Lebanese crisis (2019–present) ===
During the beginning of the [[17 October Revolution|October 17 protests]], Geagea called for the resignation of the Prime Minister, due to the "resounding failure to halt the deterioration of the [country's] economic situation".<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 October 2019 |title=Geagea appelle Hariri à démissionner |url=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1191589/geagea-appelle-hariri-a-demissionner.html |access-date=18 October 2019 |website=L'Orient-Le Jour |language=fr}}</ref> Geagea had previously blamed his opponents for "obstructing the necessary reforms," but since declared his "lack of confidence in the current cabinet." His party held four seats within the government: Minister of Labor [[Camille Abou Sleiman]], Minister of Administrative Development [[May Chidiac]], Deputy Prime Minister [[Ghassan Hasbani]], and Minister of Social Affairs [[Richard Kouyumdjian|Richard Kouyumjian]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Azar |first=Georgi |date=20 October 2019 |title=Lebanese Forces resign from Cabinet |url=https://en.annahar.com/article/1052943-lebanese-forces-resign-from-cabinet |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130155815/https://en.annahar.com/article/1052943-lebanese-forces-resign-from-cabinet |archive-date=2019-11-30 |access-date=19 October 2019 |website=An-Nahar}}</ref>

On 6 August 2020, Geagea was the first politician to visit [[Beirut]] after the [[2020 Beirut explosion|explosion]]<ref>[https://www.alarabiya.net/arab-and-world/2020/08/06/%D8%AC%D8%B9%D8%AC%D8%B9-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%82%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%85 "جعجع عن انفجار بيروت: طرف ما خزن تلك المواد القاتلة"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125114057/https://www.alarabiya.net/arab-and-world/2020/08/06/%D8%AC%D8%B9%D8%AC%D8%B9-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%82%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%85|date=25 January 2022}}, ''[[Al Arabiya]]'', Lebanon, 6 August 2020</ref> and launched from there a relief committee, Ground-0, under the leadership of the former minister [[May Chidiac|Dr. May Chidiac]] to support in rebuilding Beirut. In December 2020, the committee achieved repairing 709 houses, assisted 5300 individuals and 2300 families, distributed 14000 food rations, made 2540 medical consultations, and provided 2030 individuals with medicine. In addition, the committee distributed more than 150 scholarships for Beirut schools' students.<ref>{{cite web |author=جبران خليل جبران |date= |title=Ground Zero Beirut |url=https://groundzerobeirut.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813004945/https://groundzerobeirut.org/ |archive-date=13 August 2022 |accessdate=3 August 2022 |publisher=Ground Zero Beirut}}</ref>

After the [[2021 Beirut clashes]], Geagea was summoned by military intelligence to testify about the events, as both [[Hezbollah]] and the Amal Movement accused his party of instigating the violence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chehayeb |first=Kareem |title=Lebanese Forces leader summoned to testify about Beirut clashes |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/25/lebanese-forces-leader-samir-geagea-summoned-beirut-clashes |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> Geagea denied these allegations, asserting that his supporters acted in self-defense against an attack by Hezbollah loyalists who had vandalized property in the area. On the day he was scheduled to appear, Geagea did not show up, and his supporters protested the summons, blocking roads in support. On 14 October 2021, protests were held in the Tayouneh neighborhood of Beirut by supporters of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement; several of the demonstrators were armed. They were calling for the removal of [[Tarek Bitar]], the judge appointed to investigate the Beirut port explosion in which [[Hassan Nasrallah]] called bias.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abi-Nassif |first=Christophe |date=15 October 2021 |title=Making sense of the Beirut clashes |url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/making-sense-beirut-clashes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015204012/https://www.mei.edu/publications/making-sense-beirut-clashes |archive-date=2021-10-15 |website=[[Middle East Institute]]}}</ref> The demonstrators were shot at by [[snipers]] from nearby buildings, though the latter's identity was unclear but Geagea's rivals alleged it was the Lebanese Forces.<ref name="apusn">{{Cite web |title=Gunfire Breaks Out in Beirut During Protest of Judge; 6 Dead {{!}} AP News {{!}} 14. 10.2021 |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-10-14/armed-clash-erupts-in-beirut-in-protest-against-blast-judge |access-date=2021-10-19 |website=USNEWS |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="newsweek">[https://www.newsweek.com/economic-collapse-energy-crisis-fear-civil-war-lebanon-1639122 Economic Collapse, Energy Crisis, Now Fear of Civil War In Lebanon],  10/14/21  [[Newsweek]]</ref>

After the [[2022 Lebanese general election|elections of 2022]], Geagea’s Lebanese Forces managed to win eighteen seats, up from fourteen seats making it the biggest party in the [[Lebanese parliament]] and the biggest Christian party in the country as for the first time the LF had surpassed the [[Free Patriotic Movement]] in votes largely due to further Christian distrust of [[Hezbollah]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Why the Lebanese Forces’ election victory is (still) not materializing |url=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1301962/why-the-lebanese-forces-election-victory-is-still-not-materializing.html |work=L'Orient Today |date=7 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Being the last year of Aoun’s presidency, parliament was charged with electing a new president and the LF vowed to not allow any candidate close to Hezbollah and its allies to be elected. Similarly, Geagea’s MPs refused to vote for Amal Movement leader [[Nabih Berri]] who at the time had been [[Speaker of Parliament]] for then thirty years. Geagea faced the difficulties of a divided opposition as many of the newly elected “October 17” MPs refused to conform to the opposition’s decision to back candidates such as [[Michel Moawad]] and later [[Jihad Azour]].

In 2022, Geagea was very critical of then-President Michel Aoun, describing Aoun as the “weakest president in Lebanon’s history”  and added that "Michel Aoun sacrificed his people and nation for his personal gain,” <ref>{{cite news |title=Geagea: Aoun Is Worst President in Lebanon’s History |url=https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3855886/geagea-aoun-worst-president-lebanon%E2%80%99s-history |work=english.aawsat.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== October 7 and Hezbollah-Israel conflict ===

Geagea, being the de-facto leader of the opposition, had been calling for the disarmament of Hezbollah for years now as well as calling for Lebanon’s neutrality.