MP Najat Aoun Saliba confirmed that change-making MPs will begin their meetings with the "Tashnaq" bloc tomorrow to discuss their presidential initiative, stating: "We are distanced from everyone, and we must Lebanese the decision. The question is whether we can agree to elect a Lebanese president without foreign dictates?" She expressed her hope in an interview on the "Beirut Today" program via MTV that the presidential candidate has lived in Lebanon, understands the people's suffering, and is a rescue-oriented political economist familiar with all issues. She clarified that "after consulting with the parliamentary blocs, the change-making MPs will assess the meetings and will then be honest with the citizens."
Regarding potential presidential candidates, she said: "If the head of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, wants to run for the presidency, he must be honest with the Lebanese and present a presidential program outlining his vision for rescue. We are practical and scientific people based on which we will judge, and this applies to the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil. I would prefer a woman to reach the presidency."
She added: "It is not true that we always think of the army commander as the president by convention; there are civilians who have succeeded. We will exert all our efforts to elect a president within the constitutional period, and if we are faced with the option of bringing in someone we do not desire, we will resort to boycotting the sessions as a democratic choice." Regarding the budget, Saliba noted that the "change-making MPs" will discuss the budget, stating: "I believe we will vote against it due to the gaps it contains."
