Maronite Patriarch Bechara Raï stated, "We have become a mockery for the countries due to some politicians, and no one has the right to play with the fate of the people, nor to destroy Lebanon." He expressed this to a delegation from the Journalists' Syndicate. Raï indicated that "the Vatican and France asked me to work internally with other components, and we will talk with everyone without exception, even with Hezbollah; the initiative will begin today."
He also noted that "the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, should call for a session two months before the end of the term, but we are distinguished by violating the constitution," pointing out that "what I understood is that there is an agreement on a candidate from the Christian components, and based on that, I acted because Lebanon can no longer endure." Raï clarified, "We sensed comfort with the Christian consensus on a name during our tour of the Vatican and France, and now, work will begin."
