The meeting between the President of the "Free Patriotic Movement," Gibran Bassil, and the head of the "Mardaint" movement, Suleiman Franjieh, initiated by Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, sparked reactions. Franjieh announced that there is "talk about opening a new chapter" in relations between the two conflicting movements, which Deputy Strida Geagea saw as Hezbollah’s "immersion" in the "swamp of disputes among its allies and their contradictions," aiming to "gather the largest possible power."
Nasrallah brought together his conflicting allies on Friday evening in a meeting that seemed to be aimed at fostering reconciliation between the two politically rival parties. Franjieh stated that the meeting with Bassil "came in its natural context and irrespective of any electoral alliance as it has become clear." He added, "There was talk about opening a new chapter and the possibility of following the meeting with coordination sessions," according to reports from the official National News Agency.
In response to a question, Franjieh clarified that "the meeting took place at Nasrallah's invitation," and confirmed at the same time: "We would have responded if the invitation were extended to us by His Beatitude the Patriarch (Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi) or by President Michel Aoun." He emphasized that "there is no alternative to dialogue and unifying efforts in a sensitive and critical phase internationally, regionally, and domestically."
This meeting is the first between the two parties in a long time, following a phase of coordination and the crystallization of electoral alliances. The Ministry of Interior recently closed the submission of electoral lists, which did not witness any alliance between the "Free Patriotic Movement" and "Mardaint" in any electoral district; instead, they face off in the "North Third" district.
Franjieh's suggestion that the meeting resembled a "reconciliation" sponsored by Nasrallah was reinforced by reports from the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar channel, which quoted sources stating that "the meeting was candid and akin to a heart-cleansing session, transforming into a friendly atmosphere where an agreement was reached to open a new chapter." It was explained that "this meeting is foundational and was held after the closure of the nomination period and the deadline for forming lists, as there are no electoral interests behind it, rather it seeks a new approach to the relationship among allies."
The issue of reconciling among allies has become a focal point for major criticism, with member of the "Strong Republic" bloc, Deputy Strida Geagea, stating that "Hezbollah is attempting to accomplish the impossible task of gathering the largest possible power."
Geagea, during an electoral tour in the north, remarked that "Hezbollah's call for participation in the elections resembles a religious mandate, as it fully understands the importance of this event for it to maintain dominance over the political decision and the decision of peace and war in Lebanon." She emphasized that "the ferocity you see from Hezbollah in this electoral event stems from its desire to seize the parliamentary majority again, allowing it to continue its influence in forming governments and electing the presidency."
She noted that "Hezbollah considers this electoral event to be of great significance in establishing the identity of Lebanon, similar to the electoral event in 1992 when it first decided to enter the parliamentary session. In its view, the current phase is very critical, as was the case in 2005 when it first decided to enter the executive authority through the government." She added, "From here, you see it attempting to accomplish the impossible task and immersing itself in the swamp of disputes among its allies and their contradictions while trying to unite opposites on a single electoral list to gather the largest possible power."
Franjieh and Bassil are described as "bitter allies of the party," and they are competing presidential candidates hailing from neighboring regions in northern Lebanon, sharing deep differences that prevented their electoral alliance in the 2018 elections as well as in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for May 15.
