An informed source indicated that parliamentary sessions for electing the president will continue as before, with no change in positions except for the positioning of some deputies, especially after the declaration of the victory of Faisal Karami and Haidar Nasser. The source noted that President Nabih Berri has information about a regional settlement being orchestrated by the French with the U.S. and Iran, which may come to light in early spring.
The source revealed that there are discreet communications between the Lebanese Forces and the Marada Movement, with attempts to find common ground, while the Lebanese Forces continue to refuse, so far, to elect Sleiman Frangieh since he is an integral part of the March 8 alliance. It seems that Hezbollah has come to the firm conclusion that there is no possibility of bridging the gaps between Frangieh and Jebran Bassil, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, and it appears that Wafiq Safa's efforts in this regard have failed, although some consultations with both Bassil and Frangieh were recorded in recent hours but yielded no results.
The source did not overlook the leaked information regarding French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Lebanon during the festive season to check on his country's forces operating in UNIFIL. Diplomatic sources suggest the possibility of a broader meeting at the Pine Palace for Lebanese leaders to attempt to produce an agreement among different parties on a basket of solutions starting with the presidency and concluding with some amendments to the political system, with the Vatican's support for whatever is agreed upon by the country's leaders, and endorsing any French initiative that would benefit Lebanon.
