BEIRUT: Lebanon’s opposition will explore every possible democratic option to remove the March 8 alliance from power, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Thursday, describing the new Cabinet as having been made in Syria.

“Our initial plan will rest upon democratic means to dispose of this Cabinet and force it to collapse as soon as possible … all democratic options are open in order to get rid of this government," Geagea told Voice of Lebanon radio station, adding that the new Cabinet would isolate Lebanon regionally and internationally.

As many other March 14 coalition lawmakers have, Geagea described the new Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati as having been Syrian made.

“It is a Syrian government because it places Lebanon at the line of defense for the Syrian regime to face its current situation and a Hezbollah government to face the indictment and the international tribunal,” Geagea said.

The United Nations-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is expected to indict Hezbollah members. The group has repeatedly questioned the credibility of the court.

Geagea also criticized Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem’s comments Wednesday that Syria had not interfered in the process of forming the new Cabinet dominated by the Damascus-backed March 8 alliance.

“All facts go against what he said and [Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid] Jumblatt's comments following his meeting with President Bashar Assad confirms this interference,” Geagea said. “In fact, Assad receiving the resigned State Minister Talal Arslan for more than one hour seeking to find a solution to bring him back to the government [is another proof].” 

Days before the announcement of the new Cabinet, Jumblatt met with Assad for a meeting in which the latter expressed hope for the speedy formation of a Lebanese Cabinet. 

Moallem Wednesday denied there had been any Syrian meddling in Najib Mikati’s Cabinet lineup.

“Syria did not play any role in the Lebanese government formation. It is 100 percent Lebanese,” Moallem said during a news conference in Syria, adding that Assad “had no time to interfere in Lebanese affairs.”