Prominent opposition circles stated in a conversation with "Nidaa Al-Watan" that the Quintet’s recent statement reiterates what the National Moderation Bloc and parliamentary opposition forces have previously confirmed. These circles highlighted two main points in the statement: 1 – Limited scope consultations, meaning not an official dialogue table. 2 – Agreement on a candidate's name or a set of names, followed by moving to an open session with consecutive rounds.
They pointed out the invitations sent by Qatar to Lebanese leaders for visits, coinciding with a timeframe set by the Quintet in solidarity among its members, indicating that the committee is strongly urging the election of a new president within a timeframe extending to June or July. If elections do not take place, it would mean returning to the Doha Agreement, which includes penalties for those obstructing the presidential election process. This implies that the new message from the Quintet is that it will not continue its work as merely an observer of the events in Lebanon, but rather will pursue completing its tasks regarding the presidential election.
Furthermore, "Nidaa Al-Watan" reported that communication between the Quintet and the National Moderation Bloc remains ongoing, but the atmosphere is still clouded with no signs of resolution. The Quintet has urged the bloc to continue its initiative despite the prevailing pessimism, especially since initiatives will see a boost once the regional scene becomes clearer. However, despite the Quintet’s optimism, there has been no tangible progress indicating that the Moderation Bloc perceives a near presidential settlement.
In a related context, information suggests that what has been released by the Quintet serves as a roadmap to transition to a new phase. It notes that the statement endorses the arrival of a consensus president at Baabda Palace, negating the notion of "winner or loser" and reassuring those fearing that the presidential deal might be a result of external calculations.
