Coinciding with the National Liberal Movement leader, MP Gibran Bassil, showcasing his heavy artillery at his press conference last Tuesday, raising the stakes of confrontation to the highest levels against his opponents, it was striking to see military vehicles lined up along the road in the "Mirna El-Chalouhi" area, surrounding the main headquarters of the movement in Sin El Fil. This is not the first time Bassil has displayed strength, as hundreds of military personnel have accompanied him on his tours from north to south to take the podium and deliver speeches.
In fact, Bassil has reaped security benefits during the appointments made during President Michel Aoun's term, and he supports the idea of making significant changes within the army's leadership, after choosing trusted officers close to him to align with, except for Army Chief Joseph Aoun due to the "strained" relationship between the commander and the head of the movement. Notably, the latter has volunteered to attack the Yarze area multiple times, accusing the army chief of negligence, claiming that "the latter has ulterior motives aiming at reaching the presidency."
In any case, Bassil strikes on all "political chords" and realizes that his presidential options are out of reach, being besieged from both inside and outside. Political observers understand that Bassil’s dream in the next term relies solely on reaching an agreement with a presidential candidate on a complete package that allows him to hold command, specifically by naming the army chief and the central bank governor, as well as appointments in administrative, security, military, and judicial institutions, allowing him to remain influential after Aoun leaves the palace and use these figures against his adversaries amid ongoing intense conflicts.
However, on the other side, according to diplomatic information from "Akhbar Al-Youm" agency, significant Western capitals are currently seeking to bring a president capable of signing a "maritime agreement" to avoid conflict over the disputed region regarding gas and oil. So far, it appears that Joseph Aoun is the only capable candidate.
Nonetheless, observers cannot definitively conclude that the army chief will reach the presidency, but he remains the strongest Western option so far, or more accurately, there is no "veto" against his name from the beginning.
