In the context of announcing electoral lists in preparation for the parliamentary elections and amidst the worsening crisis at all levels, a glimmer of hope emerged yesterday with the announcement of a visit by His Holiness Pope Francis to Lebanon in June. It is hoped that this visit will bring signs of good and relief, especially if it is preceded by a resolution to regional and international crises, as well as the conclusion of the parliamentary elections with results that establish a new authority to guide the country towards broader relief on all levels.
President Michel Aoun met with the papal ambassador to Lebanon, Monsignor Joseph Spiteri, who delivered a written message stating that "His Holiness the Pope has decided to visit Lebanon in June," with the exact date and program to be announced officially in coordination between Lebanon and the Vatican. Aoun expressed his happiness for the Pope's acceptance of the invitation renewed during their recent meeting at the Vatican on March 21, emphasizing that "the Lebanese have been awaiting this visit for some time to express their gratitude for His Holiness’s stances regarding Lebanon and its people, the initiatives he has undertaken, and the prayers he has offered for peace and stability."
**Timing and Content**
According to information from "Al-Jumhuriya," the visit is expected to take place in the first third of June, depending on the anticipated schedule of the Pope's activities. Arrangements for the visit will be finalized in coordination among the presidential palace, the papal embassy, the Lebanese embassy in the Vatican, and the specific departments dealing with the Pope's external activities. Observers noted several points about the visit, including the rapid determination of the date following multiple invitations made by Aoun, suggesting that the Pope wishes to renew papal sponsorship over Lebanon as it enters a new phase after the elections.
**Mikati's Statement**
Meanwhile, just hours after the Ministry of Interior announced the electoral lists across all districts, Prime Minister Najib Mikati told "Al-Jumhuriya": "We will remove anything that could threaten the elections. At the same time, the government continues to implement its program diligently and firmly, aware of the scale of the crises the country is experiencing and working with all available resources to address them."
In response to reactions regarding comments made by Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh al-Shami about the state being bankrupt, government sources clarified to "Al-Jumhuriya" that he confirmed the existence of state solvency but not liquidity, adding that this does not imply bankruptcy in financial and economic terms. The sources noted that negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are progressing in the right direction, expecting to achieve results soon.
**Framework Agreement**
In this context, economic sources revealed to "Al-Jumhuriya" that there is a possibility of reaching an initial framework agreement between Lebanon and the IMF very soon, pending the completion of an agreement on key details. It is expected that the agreement will become final once the state fulfills its obligations.
**Upcoming Meetings**
Reports indicate that significant progress has been made in negotiations between the IMF delegation and the Lebanese negotiating team, with agreement on the basic frameworks of the IMF program, though discussions on the prerequisites set by the IMF are still ongoing. The Lebanese delegation is expected to meet with the Prime Minister tomorrow before traveling to the United States, with the next few hours anticipated to be highly active in efforts to sign a preliminary agreement.
**Cabinet Meeting**
The Prime Minister is expected to inform the Cabinet, which will convene today, about the discussions with the IMF. The session will consider an agenda of 21 items, including the Minister of Displaced’s vision for restructuring the banking sector, which is a key condition for the IMF. The Cabinet will also review developments in the energy sector, particularly regarding the plan for establishing new electricity generation plants.
**Election Lists Announcement**
Regarding elections, the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities issued 103 electoral lists yesterday, including 718 candidates after 42 withdrew and 284 additional candidates were disqualified for not being part of any list. The lists are distributed by districts as follows: 6 lists in Beirut I, and 10 in Beirut II, among others across various regions.
**Flour Crisis**
Separately, the flour crisis appears to be approaching due to the Central Bank's delay in opening the necessary credits to offload wheat vessels waiting at sea. Sources informed "Al-Jumhuriya" that the Governor of the Central Bank rejects payments outside the framework of the "borrowing contract," which he insists is the legal framework for the state to borrow from the Central Bank to support imported wheat, while the Council of State is still studying this contract.
**Final Notes**
Judicially, Pierre Francis, the head of the appeals authority in Mount Lebanon, recused himself from the appeal presented by the Public Prosecution regarding the release of Rami Salameh, transferring the file to the head of the Mount Lebanon Court of Appeals for the appointment of a substitute judge.
Health-wise, the daily report from the Ministry of Public Health regarding developments in the COVID-19 virus showed 284 new cases, bringing the total to 1,093,551 since February 2020, along with 5 new deaths, increasing the total fatalities to 10,323.
