The Lebanese Forces (LF), which made big gains in Lebanons parliamentary elections earlier this month, said it will use its stronger position to press for “Hezbollahs” weapons to be brought under government control and to root out corruption in the heavily indebted state. The LF, which almost doubled its number of MPs in the May 6 election, expects to convert those gains into more power in a new coalition government that Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri is expected to lead, LF chief Samir Geagea told Reuters in an interview published on Friday. Geagea said it would "no doubt" be difficult to form the new government which - like the outgoing one - will share out ministries among Lebanons rival parties, including the Iran-backed “Hezbollah”. But citing intentions expressed by Lebanese leaders and the pressing need for economic reform, Geagea held out hope the cabinet formation would not take too long. He confirmed his party was moving towards nominating Hariri as premier again. The formation process may have, however, hit a glitch with the United States announcing on Wednesday sanctions against “Hezbollah” Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah and his deputy, Naim Qassem. Other sanctions also targeted one of its major financiers. Lebanon was in dire need of a "truly new" government to tackle corruption, Geagea said. "I believe everyone has realized now that the ship might sink with everyone aboard," he added, referring to the economic risks facing the state with the worlds third highest debt as a share of output. "I believe we are in a new phase." The LF is the second biggest Christian party after the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) established by President Michel Aoun, a “Hezbollah” ally who became head of state in 2016. While Aoun has expressed support for “Hezbollahs” possession of weapons as a deterrent to Israel, Geagea is the Shiite groups most significant Christian adversary in Lebanon and an opponent of its allies in Damascus and Tehran, reported Reuters. “Hezbollah” and its allies also emerged with the parliamentary majority in the recent elections. Including the FPM, Hezbollah and factions that back its possession of arms won more than 70 of parliaments 128 seats. Hariri was always expected to lose out under a new proportional system, but he remains the leading Sunni figure in Lebanons sectarian system. Geagea, however, disputed that “Hezbollah” had come out stronger, saying the FPM was no real ally of the group and its backing for its weapons was "just verbal". The LF, which won 15 seats, emerged from a Christian militia led by Geagea through the final phase of the 1975-90 civil war. "Hezbollah", set up by Irans Revolutionary Guards, was the only Lebanese group to keep its weapons at the end of the war. It used them to fight Israeli troops occupying southern Lebanon. Since Israel withdrew in 2000, the arms have been a point of contention and the group has been deemed a terrorist organization by the United States. Noting that “Hezbollah” was part of the cabinet, Geagea said his party would propose - as a temporary measure - that its arsenal be put at the command of the government. "If we accept, for the sake of argument, that ‘Hezbollahs’ weapons stay where they are temporarily ... why shouldnt the decision on their use be the Lebanese governments?" he said, according to Reuters. "We will push with all our strength (towards this goal) though at the same time I see little hope in achieving anything because ‘Hezbollahs’ position on this issue is almost ideological," he continued. He said the issue must be addressed through negotiations, adding: "No escalation, stability is a red line." Geagea expressed concern about tensions in the wider region, where “Hezbollah” has been involved in fighting alongside the Syrian regime against the country’s uprising. "The least I can say is that the region is going towards more escalation and complication. Will it reach a comprehensive war, or remain as it is at present? I dont know," Geagea said. Lebanon has been spared the worst of the instability that has swept through the Arab world since 2011, though the Syrian war has exacerbated long-standing rivalries and contributed to years of paralysis in government. This has weighed on the economy of a country hosting some 1 million Syrian refugees, or one in four of its population. Growth has stagnated while levels of government debt have climbed, moving above 150 percent of GDP at the end of 2017. The IMF in February said fiscal policy must be "immediately anchored" in a plan to stabilize and reduce debt levels. Geagea said wiping out corruption in government was the most important step towards fixing Lebanons finances. Reforming the heavily subsidized power sector alone would save the treasury $1.5 billion a year, he said. Another $1 billion could be saved through tackling waste and corruption elsewhere in the state. "I fear that if the situation continues as it is - financially and economically - matters will worsen," he said.