In light of the complexities of the domestic situation, key capitals and active countries have begun to seriously consider ways to move forward in order to salvage the presidential elections, as they are aware of the Lebanese people's inability to successfully navigate such a significant event. In this context, "Nidaa Al-Watan" learned that there has been recent communication between the Élysée and Vatican circles regarding Lebanon in general and the presidential file in particular. The discussion focused on the necessity of continuing to operate Lebanese legitimate institutions and avoiding a lethal vacuum.
The Vatican has not hidden its fear for the fate of the presidential elections, especially given that the experiences of 2007, following President Emil Lahoud's term, and 2014, after President Michel Suleiman's term, were not encouraging. Thus, there is a genuine concern about the potential disruption of this election amidst increasing speculation regarding how President Michel Aoun's term will end. The Vatican does not want the obstruction of the presidency to serve as a gateway for a foundational conference that could undermine the "Taif Agreement" and eliminate parity, particularly as the Holy See is committed to the formula of Christian-Muslim coexistence and seeks to maintain the first position of Christians in the East within Lebanon.
While the Holy See will do everything in its power to prevent a presidential vacuum, communication channels will remain open with the Élysée to monitor the presidential election file, and the level of coordination will increase in the coming weeks and months leading up to the constitutional deadline to elect a new president.
French President Emmanuel Macron faces a challenging task in Lebanon, one that may be more difficult than his visit to Beirut after the port explosion and the proposal to form an independent government of specialists. The French president does not view the political forces with ease and is aware of how they can evade all initiatives, particularly the most recent French initiative, which could have helped pull Lebanon out of its severe economic and political crisis.
So far, Paris does not possess a complete initiative concerning the presidential elections, but it will continue to focus on the broad themes it always reiterates: the necessity of forming a government, electing a president, preventing a vacuum, and commencing needed reforms for Lebanon to receive aid. These themes will precede the French entry into details and names.
