Teymour Joumblatt says there is no alternative to the state

18:00

By: Sahili Aya

Teymour Joumblatt says there is no alternative to the state

The leader of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), Teymour Joumblatt, reaffirmed that “there is no alternative to the state” during a commemoration marking the 42nd anniversary of the battles of Chehar el-Gharbi, which took place during the Lebanese Civil War.

Speaking at the ceremony, Joumblatt emphasized that national reconciliation remains an irreversible choice. He stressed that only a strong and functioning state can guarantee security and stability for all citizens, regardless of sectarian affiliation.

“There is no alternative to the state or to national partnership,” he declared, underscoring the role of public institutions in safeguarding unity. According to him, the state’s authority, embodied in its national army and security forces, is the sole framework capable of ensuring collective protection and preventing a return to internal divisions.

The Chehar el-Gharbi region, located in the Aley district, witnessed intense clashes between Christian and Druze factions during the civil war years. The violence left a lasting imprint on Lebanon’s social fabric before reconciliation efforts in the early 2000s paved the way for coexistence and political dialogue.

Joumblatt’s remarks come at a time when Lebanon continues to grapple with political and economic challenges, reviving debates over governance, institutional reform, and the preservation of civil peace. By reiterating his commitment to reconciliation and state institutions, the PSP leader positioned national unity as the cornerstone of Lebanon’s future stability.