Head of Free Patriotic Movement Gebran Bassil said on the commemoration of October 13: "We, as Christians, don’t claim our rights with blood;" pointing out that "justice is served by the judiciary, not by sectarian incitement. The one whose past is tarnished cannot claim to love justice, kill protestors, and try to cause strife in the country."
He added that "those who came to Chiah, Tayouneh and Ain Al Remmaneh shouted provocative slogans. Would they have accepted that the families of the victims or party people descend to Dahieh and chant against its people? It is never acceptable to insult, violently take to the streets and cause damage. This is not a peaceful demonstration! Nor is it legal to kill people!"
In a related context, on the investigation into the explosion of the port of Beirut, he said: "The Free Patriotic Movement favors that the judicial investigation continue, the truth be revealed, and perpetrators be prosecuted. We will face whoever tries to cover up the file, and we are against any politicization or discretion in the file. It is clear that there is discretion in the course of the investigation and there are a lot of legitimate questions in this regard, but it is not clear that there is any politicization on the part of the judge."