In a speech addressed to students that graduated in Aley mountain resort region, Jumblatt said he wanted a Lebanese national president who is independent and doesn't sit in Baabda palace waiting for instructions. His speech was read by Anwar Dao, Managing Director of the cooperative of government employees . He added: "We want an individually strong and free president as per Bkirki specifications and refuse to have a weak president that derives his power from the outside. We want a president that represents the aspirations of the people of Lebanon in freedom, sovereignty and independence. We reject any president that objects to and undermines the aspirations of the Lebanese people. We want a president that is colored freedom, tastes sovereignty & smells independence, and reject any president that has no color, taste or smell...
"We want the President who can solve our economic and social, living, educational and other problems, and reject President that adds to these problems. We want a President, who will be able to sponsor the youth and contributes to their ambitions and aspirations, and reject the President, who sits idle as the country is drained of its youth who are leaving their country out of desperation to build other countries instead of their own. We want an active president that works hard at making sure his people smile and reject a president that smiles while his people are suffering.
"This country is now bleeding the young and qualified to God's vast country, bleeding the innocents citizens, the free deputies and the brave soldiers. Its economy and the standard of living of its people are also bleeding.
"Lebanon will no longer be the divided country , but the country of unity and harmony , the country of liberty, democracy and justice, a country of diversity and respect for others ."