One of the most significant outcomes of the parliamentary elections is that they introduced a number of opposing change-oriented MPs into the council. Conversely, perhaps the "greater disaster" is that it brought together two bitter rivals, the "Free Patriotic Movement" and "Amal Movement," to navigate the political game within constitutional institutions at the expense of other forces, following a heated dispute throughout President Michel Aoun's term regarding several governmental issues.
Political observers note that raising the bar provocatively before the elections, especially by the leader of the movement, MP Gebran Bassil, indicates the presence of a new set of rules, leaning towards radicalism in his positions after sensing that he was losing control over the internal game. This situation may drive him to make certain choices to protect his interests by forging various agreements or understandings with forces he has long opposed and accused of corruption or disruption.
On the other hand, information suggests that a "Bnehai agreement" is supposed to progress steadily. The communications being made by Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab will undoubtedly lead to a consensus on a formula based on common grounds between the orange bloc and the Marada Movement. An informed source expects that we might see the elites of Mirna El Chalteh in Bnehai cutting a cake similar to the experience in "Maaraq," following the indicators Bassil conveyed in his recent appearance, sweetly addressing Marada leader Sleiman Frangieh as "authentic."
Regardless of what the reconciliation between "two Maronite leaders competing for the presidency" will lead to, a prominent political reference comments that what remains certain, after the anticipated Bnehai agreement, is that the definitive word will belong to Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, in this event. He indicated in a statement to "Akbar Al Yawm" that Nasrallah's considerable influence over Frangieh and Bassil, both aiming jointly at the Baabda Palace, may help one of them establish themselves there after October 31.
In the meantime, informed sources via "Akbar Al Yawm" indicate that Bassil is still making efforts to include MPs like Tony Frangieh and William Tawk into the "Strong Lebanon" bloc, and possibly MP Fred Kazzan who had voted for "Bou Saab" in the election of the Deputy Speaker, meeting with him later on. Thus, Bassil is working ahead of the binding parliamentary consultations to name a new prime minister—which will increase his chances of imposing his ministerial conditions—demanding the "blocking third," which would be a significant asset for him politically, likely increasing the representation of the Marada Movement and possibly involving them with two ministers instead of one.
