Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said those rejecting ongoing negotiations deny the authority of the state and its institutions, stressing that only the president and government represent the Lebanese people.

In a statement, Geagea said Lebanon has a democratically elected parliament that chose President Joseph Aoun with 99 votes and granted the current government confidence twice by more than a two-thirds majority. He said anyone dismissing negotiations conducted constitutionally by the president in coordination with the prime minister is effectively rejecting the state and the majority of Lebanese.

Geagea added that officials must act on this basis.