Dubai: Lebanese residents in the UAE say they were surprised by the announcement of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea when he gave his backing to his rival Michael Aoun for the presidency on Monday night.

Suzanna Mounzer, 25, who works in public relations, told Gulf News the move will unite the largest Christian parties in Lebanon.

“Personally, I don’t follow Lebanese politics because it is shameful. It is a shame we couldn’t even agree on a president. [The issue] has been dragging the country down and making it’s citizens’ lives more difficult,” she said.

“I have been away from Lebanon for so long, its politics don’t affect me much,” she said, adding that she was against sectarianism.

Hikmat Abdul Baki, 47, a sales director at a car service company, told Gulf News that it was hard to predict whether the alliance was good or not.

Having lived for 16 years in the UAE, she said that it could be good for the Christians but not good for their previous alliances.

“In many cases politicians only care about their own circle of supporters,” she said. “There needs to be a focus on the entire community.”

“Whether we have a president or not, it hasn’t changed the standard of living. The president has no power in Lebanon and cannot do anything,” she added.

Osama Al Halabi, 23, said Geagea’s announcement doesn’t matter.

“I have long given up on Lebanese politics and see no improvement happening anytime soon. It is sad to see a country so beautiful and no one working to preserve it.”

Tony Haddad, a 60-year-old businessman who follows Lebanese politics closely, said it was about time that the two Christian parties united. “The alliance can contribute to solving the issues in Lebanon and help bring more stability to the country,” he said.

“Lebanon is one step closer to having a president, who will most probably be Aoun,” he said. “I think we should be a bit more positive about it rather than say how having a president will not change anything.”