The newspaper Al-Nahar today reported on the political path (to form a government) and the judicial path related to the investigation of the Beirut explosion. The article states:
While the issue of suspending the previous investigator in the Beirut port explosion, Judge Fadi Sawan, and appointing a new investigator, Judge Tarek Bitar, has dominated the internal scene over the past three days, anticipation for Bitar's mission will not overshadow the return of the government file to the forefront in the coming hours. The accumulation of political blockage, and rather political tension, is expected to resurface in light of the threats and warnings expressed by members and activists of the "Free Patriotic Movement" regarding the speech prepared by the leader of the movement, MP Gebran Bassil, to be delivered today, which will include a detailed response to Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s speech last Sunday during the 16th anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination. If the expectations circulated by the FPM in anticipation of Bassil's speech today are correct, they will contain sharp and detailed responses to Hariri's stance, implying that Bassil will respond on behalf of both President Michel Aoun and the FPM without any ambiguity.
Many informed circles believe this will confirm that Bassil is managing the battle to obstruct the formation of the new government, which will further weaken any claims from Baabda denying his involvement in this open political confrontation. These circles also believe that Hariri's recent tours to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, following his visits to Egypt and France, have contributed to escalating tensions from the FPM, both directly from Baabda and from the party in Mirna Chalouhi, especially after the clear supportive statements for Hariri's mission that have not come from any capitals he visited.
Additionally, the strong Russian support for Hariri expressed clearly days ago has also formed a significant pressure factor and a message of considerable implications, which the FPM is expected to have accurately interpreted. However, the same circles believe that the presidential-FPM group, in both its official and party capacities, will only exhibit further stubbornness and obstinacy and will not adopt any flexible position, as appearing to retreat from their rigidity would cost them politically and morally more than they could bear. Thus, they assess that the time for resolving the governmental situation has not yet arrived, and that the political reality between Baabda and the Center House remains entangled in escalating atmospheres, amid increasing fears of linking the government formation issue to regional developments specifically related to moving American-Iranian negotiations, even though Hezbollah denies this linkage every day.
In the meantime, the upcoming week is expected to take on a notable character in terms of preparations to announce a series of positions and take steps that show strong support for the Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi regarding the prominent national positions he has been announcing, the latest of which being his continuous calls for an international conference for Lebanon. As preparations are underway for a broad political conference organized by the "Meeting of Lady of the Mountain," dedicated to issuing a statement in support of the patriarch's positions regarding the international conference and Lebanon's neutrality, notable movements are also being planned, including a large delegation from the "Strong Republic" bloc and the Lebanese Forces visiting Bkerke mid-week to declare absolute support for Bkerke and the patriarch’s stance. There were also reports about preparations for organizing a popular march to Bkerke in support of the patriarch's positions.
Regarding the investigation file of the Beirut port explosion, while the new investigator Bitar began preparations for his mission yesterday, the scene following the removal of the previous investigator and the appointment of a replacement remains shrouded in ambiguity and doubt, especially since Bitar had previously hesitated about this task when he was consulted for his appointment before Sawan’s appointment, and has now agreed to it, raising questions about whether Bitar will pursue what his predecessor failed to do regarding holding accountable the political responsibilities related to the port explosion disaster, rather than focusing solely on administrative and security responsibilities. Therefore, it seems unlikely that Bitar's appointment will conceal calls or positions and initiatives related to demanding an international investigation or seeking international expertise once again concerning the port explosion, which will not wane.
In this context, Minister of Justice in the caretaker government Marie-Claude Najm confirmed in a television interview that the judge should be aware that he will face pressures, and that the port explosion file is complicated, and that Judge Tarek Bitar bears a significant responsibility, and "we must prepare the appropriate environment for him," adding that he confirmed he will go to the end in this file. Najm urged Bitar "to reveal any pressure he may face and I am proud that he accepted this challenge." She revealed that "there is a part of the investigation that requires cooperation with abroad and there are awaited reports, and the role of the investigator is to apply the law and lead us to the truth."
