October 28, 2026
The head of the Lebanese Phalange Party, MP Sami Gemayel, linked the protection of municipal commons to the activation of decentralization and local development, considering that preserving and investing these lands constitutes an essential foundation for strengthening the role of municipalities, stabilizing people in their areas, and reducing waves of internal migration towards the coast and abroad.
Gemayel’s words came during a party meeting organized by the Phalange Party under the title “Municipal Commons: Protecting Rights and Exploring Investment Opportunities,” where he stressed that the commons, especially in Mount Lebanon, represent “the property of all the people of the village,” and are an integral part of the private property of citizens and the identity and history of the regions, stressing that “they cannot be touched” under any circumstances.
He called for a complete halt to any attempt to seize these lands, expressing his hope that “the ministerial decision will be nullified once and for all to reassure us and confirm that the commons are not loose lands.” He called for moving towards examining mechanisms for investing it in a way that serves local communities, explaining that the aim of the meeting is to help mayors, provide them with ideas, and connect them with the private sector to benefit from this wealth in the fields of energy and waste management, in addition to tourism, environmental and cultural projects as sustainable sources of financing.
In a related context, Gemayel warned of the danger of migration, which is divided into two stages: one internal towards the coast, and the other external, considering that curbing internal migration obstructs the path leading to external migration. He stressed that “good work on the level of our villages makes a difference,” pointing out that technological development and turning the world into a “small village,” in addition to equipping villages with infrastructure, gives them the ability to keep pace with the times and provide the elements for survival.
Gemayel concluded by linking these trends to the party’s project for modern Lebanon, considering that “the basic approach is decentralization,” and that strengthening municipalities and preserving and developing the commons represents the first step to fortifying this option and providing the elements of local development that guarantee the survival of citizens on their land.
