The positions of political blocs and party and independent MPs regarding the elections for the presidency of the Parliament, particularly the election of the Vice President, will be clarified today. While the election of Nabih Berri for a new term is confirmed, the anticipation revolves around the number of votes he will receive, which predictions suggest will be no less than sixty and no more than seventy.
Although the "Strong Lebanon" bloc announced that it would not vote for Berri, sources close to him, who will chair a meeting for the Development and Liberation bloc today, expected to secure some votes from its MPs, including those who belong to the Free Patriotic Movement.
As for the "Strong Republic" bloc, the decision has been made not to vote for Berri and not to nominate any member from the bloc. A source from the Lebanese Forces told MTV that the bloc has set specifications for the position of Vice President, noting that MP Saji Aitiyah does not meet these specifications following his announcement of an intention to vote for Berri.
The source revealed that there is "anticipation of the opposition MPs' positions, both party-affiliated and independent, and if they name a unified candidate, the bloc MPs will commit to voting for them." Meanwhile, the Democratic Gathering will meet at six thirty this evening to finalize their choice, with its sources confirming that they will not support either MPs Elias Bou Saab or Saji Aitiyah, and discussions are ongoing with allies and independent MPs before making a final decision.
Last night, MPs Sami Gemayel, Fouad Makhzoumi, Michel Daher, Michel Moawad, and Ni'mah Afram gathered at Afram's home in Qleiat and all agreed not to vote for Berri, while leaving the choice for the Vice Presidential position open, with the name of MP Adeb Abdel-Masih being proposed as one of the options, even though his victory seems unlikely. It is noteworthy that Bou Saab's nomination was prompted by pressure from MPs in the "Strong Lebanon" bloc, which began with a statement by MP Alan Aoun that was later denied by sources from the Free Patriotic Movement after 48 hours. Following that, information leaked about MP Gebran Bassil's intention to nominate MP George Attallah, while he was in communication with MP Saji Aitiyah, intending to support him, before the decision to nominate Bou Saab was issued on Friday afternoon.
It should be noted that the Metn MP managed, through some communications, to secure votes from outside the Free Patriotic Movement, Tashnaq, the Shiite duo, and their Sunni allies, benefiting from being the only candidate who was a member of the previous parliament, which means his parliamentary experience exceeds that of his competitors Saji Aitiyah and Ghassan Skaff.
In conclusion, Nabih Berri will be elected as the President of the Parliament tomorrow, with Elias Bou Saab serving as his Vice President. This is the first "challenge" for the new council, followed by the more difficult task of naming a Prime Minister, and the even greater challenge of forming the government.
