Samir Geagea: The Lebanese Forces Party Is a Long and Broad Existential Cause

Lebanese Forces Party President Samir Geagea stressed that "true leadership is not acquired simply by participating in training courses or gaining theoretical knowledge, but is built through experience, continuous work, and the ability to bring about actual change in the environment where a person operates." He considered that "the basic criterion for the success of any training experiment lies in the extent to which it reflects on the individual's personality, behavior, and performance, and what tangible results they can achieve in their community."

Geagea's remarks came during a graduation ceremony for 120 party members in the Lead Forward program, organized by the party's External Relations Department in cooperation with the Political Socialization Department, and in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Participants underwent six weeks of training courses covering the development of leadership and personal skills, communication and influence skills, and political participation. The event was held at the party headquarters in Meerab, attended by MPs Fadi Karam, Melhem Riachi, Antoine Habchi, and Nazih Matta; Party Secretary-General Emile Makrezl; Head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation – Lebanon Office Kristina Badeh; Assistant Secretary for Interests Nabil Abu Jouda; Assistant Secretary for Regions George Eid; Assistant Secretary for Administration Rafiq Shahine; Head of the External Relations Department and former Minister Richard Kouyoumjian; Head of the Media and Communication Department Jad Demian; Coordinator for the Koura Region Rashad Nicola; Coordinator for the Zahle Region Charbel Al-Saqar; Coordinator for the Batroun Region Joe Feghali; Coordinator for the Aley Region Salim Abi Daher; Coordinator for the Western Bekaa-Rashaya Region Elie Saqr; Coordinator for the Tripoli Region Fadi Mahfouz; Coordinator for the Keserwan-Sannine Region Sannin Baayoun; Coordinator for the Zgharta Region Charbel Majid; Coordinator for the Minnieh-Dennie Region Nancy Al-Bitar; Coordinator for the Akkar Region Rony Saad; Coordinator for the Tyre Region Fouad Odeh; Coordinator for the Upper Metn Region Jawad Abu Jouda; Head of the Youth and Graduates Department Marc Saad; Head of the Women's Empowerment Department Cynthia Asmar; Head of the Trade Unions Bureau Tony Noune; Head of the University Professors Bureau Jamil Habib; Head of the Legal Professions Bureau Pascal Mourad; Vice Head of the Physiotherapists Bureau Joseph Jabily; and heads and members of the External Relations Department offices.

Geagea urged graduates "not to consider obtaining their graduation certificates as the end of their leadership preparation path, but rather as the start of a more important phase requiring them to continue developing their capabilities and putting what they learned into practice." He affirmed that "actual leadership appears when a party member, without being in a position of responsibility or possessing authority, manages to bring about change in the life of the center to which they belong." He pointed out that "success in theoretical lessons does not necessarily mean success in practical life, where the real test of knowledge and skills lies."

He stressed that "the Lebanese Forces are not just a political party in the traditional sense, but express an existential cause that transcends narrow political work." He noted that "the succession of generations carrying this cause and continuing to struggle for it constitutes the clearest evidence of its solidity and continuity," saying: "It is true that our name is a political party, but in reality, we are a cause, a long and broad existential cause." He expressed "his satisfaction with the depth of thought and will to continue he observed among the graduates," considering that "this confirms that fifty years of work have not gone to waste, and that generations complement each other, and therefore the cause continues."

In discussing the concept of leadership and the importance of training, Geagea clarified that his "permanent positive outlook on things and his insistence on seeing the glass half full do not prevent him from paying attention to the other half, especially when it comes to the expected results of leadership preparation programs." He paused at the course title Lead Forward and some phrases appearing in participants' certificates, warning against "the belief that acquiring a set of skills and knowledge during a limited training period is sufficient to automatically transition to a leadership position."

Addressing the graduates, he said: "Do not ever consider what you have learned now as sufficient; it is only a tiny fraction of what you should know and learn. You have become acquainted with topics that exist in life, and each of these topics is itself a vast subject requiring extensive research and deepening." He explained that "his words were not intended to diminish the value of the achievement they accomplished, but to place it in its correct context, because what they did constitutes a fundamental and important step, but remains the beginning of the road, not its end."

Geagea likened "the experience undertaken by the participants to opening a book and looking at its first page," considering that "real benefit requires continuing to read this book and delving into its various chapters." He said: "If you want to work well, you must continue reading the book you opened. But if you think that you took this course and became leaders and that is the end of it, then God help us and cover you and us together."

He urged graduates "not to stop at the boundaries of the training program, but to launch from it towards a permanent path of self-development and skill refinement, whether in personal development, communication and connection, persuasion methods, or emotional intelligence." He considered that "each of these fields constitutes a wide knowledge field requiring deepening and continuous practice, and that what they gained during the course should be a motivation for further learning, not a reason to be satisfied with the information they already possess."

Geagea moved from the theoretical aspect to practical application, proposing a test to participants that would "determine the extent of their actual success in benefiting from the course, given that they all belong to different party organizational frameworks, whether in regions, centers, departments, or bureaus." He called on each graduate to "return to their natural party unit and engage in its work as an ordinary member, without demanding any additional position or authority, and working from this position to employ what they learned to bring about positive change in their surroundings."

He clarified that "the head of the center or regional coordinator possesses, by virtue of their position, a set of authorities that help them manage work and influence its course, while the difficulty of the real test lies in the ability of the ordinary member to influence without relying on organizational authority." He said: "If you want to know whether you have developed a real leadership sense, and whether you benefited from this course, each one of you must be capable of changing something in the life of the center to which they belong. Here lies the great challenge."

In this framework, he stressed that "building leadership starts from the party base, from knowing the details of organizational work, its problems, and its needs, leading to gradually acquiring experience." He indicated that "this approach has always been one of the elements of strength for the Lebanese Forces and their ability to prepare their cadres." He affirmed that "whoever begins their career from the base and progresses in assuming responsibilities acquires a different knowledge of the nature of work, because they have personally experienced the various stages and challenges before reaching advanced positions."

Geagea recalled in this context the experience of the martyred President Bashir Gemayel, considering that "his rise to leadership was not due to his name or family affiliation, but was the fruit of many years of field work and direct communication with comrades in the regions and party cadres." He noted that "Gemayel, about fifteen years before reaching the leadership position, toured the regions, sat with those working there, and discussed with them the political and security developments looming on the horizon," warning of "the possibilities of war breaking out at a time when many politicians did not realize the gravity of what was happening."

He indicated that "Gemayel sought, with the limited resources available at the time, to prepare those working with him, train them, and improve their capabilities, based on his awareness of the importance of readiness and preparation to face upcoming challenges." He considered that "this experience embodies the concept of leadership built on working from the base, direct communication with people, and accumulating experiences, not on being content with positions and titles."

He urged graduates to "adopt the same approach, each within their party unit and according to their capabilities," clarifying that "he does not ask a member belonging to the Zahle coordination, for example, to change the entire reality of the region, because he is not the primary official responsible for it nor does he possess the authority to do so. What is required of him, at minimum, is to be able to bring about change, even if limited, within the scope of his work, so that the extent of his benefit from the course can be measured based on what he actually achieves."

He noted that "the difference between theoretical success and practical success can be significant, as not everyone who excels in receiving and absorbing information is necessarily capable of using it in daily life or turning it into results." He stressed that "the value of knowledge lies not only in its volume, but in the extent of its impact on personality, behavior, and capacity for giving." In this regard, he cited the phrase 'knowledge inflates,' warning against "knowledge becoming merely a means to feel superior, instead of being a tool for self-development and serving others."

He said that "acquiring new information is positive in itself, but it does not automatically mean that a person has become more capable or effective, because the fundamental issue remains the extent to which this knowledge has reflected on their character, actions, and contribution to society." He considered that "this is precisely what he wants to test among the graduates through their engagement in field party work, where one can distinguish between those who settled for acquiring knowledge and those who managed to transform it into a real capacity for initiative and influence."

Geagea began his speech by welcoming the attendees, expressing "his pleasure in participating in the graduation ceremony," and revealing that "he attended the meeting without fully knowing what awaited him, after being informed that the program falls within the context of a very old experience in preparing party cadres, dating back to the war years and the courses organized in Qattara."

In this framework, he recalled some stations of that stage, indicating that "interest in training and socialization accompanied the journey of the Lebanese Forces since its beginnings, starting from his firm conviction that faith in the cause, no matter how deep, is not alone sufficient to wage the struggle for it unless accompanied by possessing the necessary tools, knowledge, and skills." He said: "No matter how much a person owns a cause, if they do not possess the provisions needed to pursue it, they will not know how to pursue it." He considered that "preparing and qualifying a person constitutes a fundamental condition to enable them to defend their convictions and achieve the goals they struggle for."

He expressed "his emotion at the testimonials presented by some graduates during the ceremony, reflecting depth of thought and will to continue the journey." He considered that "these two elements gain special importance in a society that needs more depth, awareness, and commitment." He explained that "what he heard reinforced his feeling of satisfaction that the efforts made over fifty years have not gone to waste, but have yielded new generations carrying the cause and continuing to work for it, ensuring its continuity and renewal."

He congratulated the graduates, praising "the seriousness they showed during the program and the passion that accompanied their participation in lectures, seminars, and workshops." He also commended "the efforts made by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the External Relations and Political Socialization Departments, and the trainers who undertook to accompany and prepare the participants." He considered that "the level reflected in the graduates' testimonials indicates the volume of work accomplished on one hand, and the participants' readiness to learn and benefit on the other."

Addressing all those who contributed to the program's success, he said: "May God give you a hundred thousand healths," stressing the importance of continuing this type of initiative, because the process of self-development does not end at a certain limit, but requires daily effort and constant perseverance, no matter how much knowledge or experience a person reaches.

At the conclusion of his speech, Geagea renewed his thanks to the representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Kristina Badeh, and to the trainers and relevant party departments. He again congratulated the graduates, before calling for "following up on the program's results practically in the coming months, through the return of participants to their original organizational units and their engagement in its daily activity."

He expressed particular interest in "the party General Secretariat, after a period ranging between two and four months, preparing a report including the number of graduates who joined their centers and party units, the nature of the work they performed, and the extent of their ability to achieve the required results." He clarified that "participants, after the end of the course, return to their natural party frameworks, whether in regions, centers, departments, or bureaus, and therefore the actual test begins from this stage." He expressed "his hope that this follow-up will show that the graduates did not settle for what they learned during the six weeks, but managed to employ it in service of their party units and develop their performance, allowing the transition from evaluating success in training to evaluating success in practice."

Geagea concluded by saying: "With the hope that we hold, as we hold today a ceremony to award graduation certificates, another ceremony to award graduation certificates in practical life."

Kouyoumjian

For his part, Kouyoumjian stressed that "political work does not stand without a clear system of values and principles." He affirmed that "politics, in the concept of the Lebanese Forces, is a message and civic duty based on serving the common good and building humans and society, not a means to achieve personal interests or reach positions."

Kouyoumjian began his speech by thanking Party President Samir Geagea for sponsoring the ceremony, and the representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Lebanon, Kristina Badeh, for her support and cooperation throughout the year. He expressed "his hope to expand this cooperation next year for the benefit of Lebanon and Germany." He also thanked the trainers and all those who "contributed to the program's success, in preparation, training, and organization," noting "the efforts made to provide a comprehensive training experience for participants."

He paused at "the axes covered by the course, from developing leadership personality and communication skills to the values that those assuming responsibility should embody." He considered that "the importance of this knowledge lies in its ability to help a person develop their performance and deal with the challenges they face in public work." He urged graduates to "continue reading, learning, and refining their capabilities," stressing that "graduation does not constitute the end of the formation stage, but the beginning of a more important stage, during which they are asked to translate what they acquired into actual practice in their political and party work."

In his approach to the motives for engaging in political life, Kouyoumjian saw that "everyone who chooses party work finds themselves facing two different approaches: the first takes politics as a means to reach positions and achieve personal gains, while the second starts from belief in a political project and a cause worthy of commitment, sacrifice, and working for the public interest." He affirmed that "the difference between the two approaches lies not in the nature of the responsibilities a person assumes, but in the goal they seek to achieve through these responsibilities, and whether they consider it a personal privilege or a mandate to serve people and society."

He described those choosing the second option as "monks of the cause," considering that "their political commitment goes beyond seeking gains and positions, becoming a constant readiness for service, sacrifice, and bearing responsibility." He considered that "this concept expresses the identity of the Lebanese Forces and the nature of its commitment," citing the party's history, journey, and performance at parliamentary, ministerial, and political levels. He affirmed that "belonging to a cause imposes on its owners to be faithful to its principles in their choices and practices, not just in the slogans they raise."

Kouyoumjian linked this concept of political work to the value system upon which the party relies, pointing to "its Christian roots and the fundamental principles it contains, foremost among them respect for human rights, freedom, justice, individual dignity, and the right to live decently and prosperously." He affirmed that "these values are not just theoretical headings, but form the basis that should govern the practice of political responsibility and decisions taken in public affairs, making the service of humans and society the primary goal of party work."

He indicated that "these principles are closely linked to the cause the Lebanese Forces struggle for, represented by preserving existence, freedom, faith, and staying in this East." He considered that "commitment to them presupposes clarity in choices, steadfastness in positions, and readiness to bear the responsibilities and sacrifices resulting from them."

Kouyoumjian concluded by congratulating the graduates on the effort they exerted during the program, urging them to "hold fast to these values and principles in their party and political journey, and not to separate the knowledge they acquired from the message they chose to commit to, so that the leadership skills they developed turn into effective tools in service of the public interest and society."

Badeh

As for Badeh, she invited the graduates of the Lead Forward program in her speech to "build on the experience they underwent and employ the knowledge and skills they acquired in their daily work and communities." She affirmed that "democratic institutions do not derive their strength solely from their organizational structures, but from the competence of individuals operating within them, and the extent of their commitment and readiness to bear responsibility and actively participate in public affairs."

She indicated that "the program provided participants, coming from different departments, regions, and backgrounds, an opportunity to meet and exchange experiences and trials, within a series of workshops addressing issues of leadership, public service, communication, and political participation." She considered that "the importance of these meetings was not limited to acquiring skills, but also included expanding participants' horizons and enhancing their ability for dialogue, cooperation, and learning from each other's experiences."

She praised "the level of interaction and openness shown by participants during the training workshops, and the ideas and experiences with which they enriched discussions." She considered that "their contributions made the program a space for personal and professional development, allowing them to approach the challenges they face in their work and communities from different angles." She stressed that "benefiting from this experience should not end with the completion of the course, but should be a motivation to continue developing capabilities and enhancing engagement in public life."

She thanked the External Relations and Political Socialization Departments of the Lebanese Forces Party for their cooperation throughout the program, and praised "the efforts of the trainers, coordinators, and organizers who contributed to its success." She congratulated the graduates on the time, effort, and commitment they dedicated to participating in its various stages, considering that "the certificates they receive express this effort, but the most important value remains in what they will be able to achieve based on what they learned."

In discussing Lebanon and the challenges it faces, Badeh affirmed that "the country's strength lies in the dedication of its sons and daughters, their resilience, and their talents." She considered that "every individual has a role in strengthening this power, through their work, contribution to their community, and readiness to bear responsibility and continue learning and developing." She stressed that "building democratic institutions and enhancing their effectiveness require individuals who possess competence, commitment, and the will to contribute to developing their communities."

She urged graduates to "maintain the relationships formed among them during the program and build upon them, through continued communication, exchanging ideas and experiences, and working on developing joint initiatives, ensuring the extension of the experience's impact beyond graduation."

She concluded by expressing "her hope that Lead Forward opens the way for new ideas, cooperation opportunities, and future projects, and forms a starting point for personal and professional paths that enhance graduates' participation in their communities and contribute to serving Lebanon."

The ceremony began with the Lebanese National Anthem and the party anthem. Then came the opening speech delivered by the Secretary of the External Relations Department, Mira Khoury, who addressed the concepts of leadership and responsibility in public work. She stressed that "true leadership does not begin with issuing decisions or stepping forward to assume positions, but with the ability to listen to others, understand data, and encompass facts, enabling taking positions based on knowledge and awareness, and readiness to bear the responsibilities and consequences resulting from them."

She noted that "practicing leadership requires combining knowledge, good judgment, and a sense of responsibility, considering that decisions taken by a person in public work are inseparable from their repercussions on others and on society." She indicated that "the next stage constitutes an opportunity for graduates to benefit from what they acquired during the program, translating the knowledge and skills they developed into practical initiatives responding to the needs of their communities and contributing to bringing about positive change in their surroundings."

Certificate Handover

At the end of the ceremony, Party President Geagea handed the graduates their certificates, appreciating their successful completion of the Lead Forward program and their participation in the training courses. This step crowns the cooperation between the External Relations and Political Socialization Departments and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, within the framework of working to develop the capabilities of party cadres and prepare them to assume leadership and political responsibilities.