The National Bloc Discussed Its Political Program and Vision for the Coming Phase Helou: We Want Elections Without Weapons

The conference presented the Bloc’s vision for the next phase and explored its key political, economic, and social orientations through speeches, interventions, and specialized workshops, all reaffirming the Bloc’s adoption of a clear roadmap to pull Lebanon out of its crises.

Michel Helou, Secretary-General

In his opening remarks, Helo stressed that “the courage required from the new presidency and new government is to turn the page on militias and return to the era of the state,” noting that “Hezbollah today cannot admit to people that they lost the war, and they are ready to let every last square meter of our land burn to preserve their raison d’être.”

He emphasized that “Hezbollah will not assume responsibility for the people who have been displaced, because ultimately, the people are their last concern.” He added that “the state bears the responsibility to regain decision-making power and monopolize arms, to enforce withdrawal and reconstruction, to negotiate with Israel and end the state of conflict, to protect the people of the South and return them to their villages, and to restore the logic of a nation, not a battlefield for wars.”

Helo continued: “The courage we need is not only in confronting illegal weapons, but also in enforcing the rule of law across all sectors: in reforming the banking sector so that financing goes to companies rather than the treasury’s deficit or state corruption; in combating mafias from drugs to generators; and in ensuring that the judiciary prosecutes the criminal, not the judge.”

He added: “Finally, courage means breaking old customs and abandoning our sectarian mindset. We cannot continue to see society as a collection of sects destined to hate one another. We are citizens, not tribes.”

On the parliamentary elections, Helou stated: “We want to participate in the elections, but they must include expatriates, and they must be held without weapons. Yes, without weapons. It is the responsibility of the state to address the issue of arms from now until election day.”

He concluded: “We want to continue the path of those who put Lebanon on the map in the mid-20th century, and for that, we are working to renew our project.”

Camille Mourani, Head of Political Relations

In his address, Mourani stressed that “the party is engaged in a participatory workshop through which we define our political identity and our project for the future.” He affirmed that “change in the country is inevitable, despite everything militias do and everything the state fails to do, because the entire region is undergoing major shifts.”

He noted that “sovereignty, independence, and reform are basic principles, but they cannot remain dreams. The country needs a state-building project that redefines its role and restores its place on the regional map as it was before the war.”

Mourani stressed that “the state must first believe it is a state, prioritize the country and its people, be part of the Arab system and committed to the Arab peace path, and address the accumulated issues with Syria to open a new chapter and participate in its reconstruction.”

Addressing attendees from the South, he said: “We stand with our comrades from the South in building a homeland worthy of our dreams, free from militias and the Israeli occupation, so that the South becomes a space for prosperity, joy, and life. After everything we have witnessed, it is clear that no crisis in this country is bigger than the dreams of its people. So we must dream.”

Tarek Sakr, Chair of the Party Council

Sakr affirmed that “the National Bloc is founded on principle and conviction. It has never aligned with any foreign power to strengthen its internal position, nor has it resorted to arms.” He emphasized the importance of “unifying ranks and updating laws to revive the Bloc’s vision built on truth and justice.”

Nour Daccache, Head of the Youth and Student Sector

Daccache presented the youth’s vision of political engagement, showcasing the sector’s activities over the past year. She highlighted “the party’s first student electoral victory in a long time at the Faculty of Political Science at USJ,” stressing that “young people reject sectarianism and turn challenges into opportunities, and dreams into plans and action.”

Workshops

The speeches were followed by four workshops focusing on:

• Sovereignty and national interest
• Financial reform and economic growth
• Social, urban, and environmental transformation
• Institutional reform and constitutional activation

Each workshop featured in-depth internal discussions.