The presidential file currently overshadows various other issues and topics, as the country grapples with its economic, social, political, and security challenges, now resonating from the depths of crisis rather than its periphery. Amid this atmosphere, some claim that there is no internal party capable of bearing the fiery ball of not electing a president under a caretaker government; thus, the stagnation in forming a government will meet significant external pressure to hold presidential elections on time.
Nonetheless, the leader of the Marada Movement, Suleiman Frangieh, opened the presidential file ahead of the parliamentary elections. Before anyone could nominate him, he "kicked off" his presidential candidacy from Bkerke last week, completing his tour to Ain el-Tineh today, where he met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. More significantly, a knowledgeable source asserts that Frangieh's outreach to the "obstructionists" of his election is not fundamentally about securing a safe path to Baabda; rather, it hinges on obtaining a consensus on his name from Hezbollah to place him in the presidential seat, with a Christian cover expected to be provided by the deputy leaders of the Free Patriotic Movement, particularly Gebran Bassil. The source also notes that the "tailoring" of the presidential shirt with Berri remains an incomplete step.
Despite the efforts being made to enhance the relationship between Frangieh and Bassil, aiming for a unified stance on the presidential elections, these efforts have yet to yield positive results. This is evidenced by Bassil's recent announcement that he has not endorsed Frangieh's candidacy and sees himself as a natural candidate for the presidency. However, Frangieh's supporters consider him the most suitable figure to reach Baabda at this stage, one that requires a great deal of rationality, openness, and a language of acceptance to improve the country's conditions and alleviate its burdens. According to their view, internal support for him must be ensured first and foremost to guarantee his ascent to the presidency and avoid entering a pre-determined losing battle.
