President Joseph Aoun stressed that “the only protection we have in Lebanon is the state’s institutions. We must maintain strong confidence in them, as they are the guarantee for everyone and protect everyone.”

During a meeting with delegations from the federations of municipalities of Jbeil and Danniyeh, Aoun said the Lebanese, from the far north to the far south and the Bekaa, were tired of living in a state of war. “Nothing is impossible when there is strong determination and the public interest takes precedence over private interests,” he added.

Aoun described municipalities as the first line of defense for local development, stressing that expanded administrative decentralization is not an option but a necessity for balanced development. He also called for moving beyond administrative red tape toward tangible development and taking essential steps to rebuild the state through digital governance and transparency.