There is no change in the political scene in the tenth session for the election of the President of the Republic, which concluded with the opposition team disrupting the quorum for the second round as usual. Notably, the votes received by the sovereign team's candidate, MP Michel Moawad, were equal to those of the blank ballots. It is worth mentioning that the Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, has not set a date for the eleventh session, which will take place after the holidays.
In this context, the communications and media official of the Lebanese Forces party, Charles Jabour, pointed out that there are no developments regarding the presidential election during the Christmas and New Year holidays, indicating "the deep divisions within the opposition team, which renders it unable to emerge from its crisis by agreeing on a single candidate. This coincides with the insistence of this team to deliver a President of the Republic, contrary to all political, popular, social, economic, and psychological indicators."
In an interview with the electronic newspaper "Anbaa," Jabour noted that "the political situation amid this crisis remains as it is, and the only way out of the stalemate is through the opposition's commitment to bring in a sovereign reformist rescue candidate and its insistence on applying the constitution," emphasizing that sessions of the Parliament should remain open until a President is elected.
Regarding the movements of the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gibran Bassil, he considered that "after realizing the impossibility of his personal candidacy and understanding that his chances of reaching the presidency are virtually zero, he is now attempting to seek a deal that grants him authoritative gains from which he can benefit, looking for an agreement that guarantees him ministerial positions at the level of authority."
Jabour concluded, asserting that "there is no glimmer of hope in the upcoming phase for achieving a breakthrough in the presidential file, as there is an opposition team that rejects extortion, submission, and acceptance of the conditions of the other team." As the Lebanese approach the holiday season, they await this period with optimism, hoping it brings good fortune with the arrival of expatriates to Lebanon. However, they are certain that the true solution only comes through fundamental reforms and long-term steps.
