The head of the "Free Patriotic Movement," Deputy Gebran Basil, affirmed that "the priority today is to re-establish authority starting with the election of a President. However, we cannot ignore the need to develop the system as one of the main priorities of the upcoming term." He confirmed readiness to discuss "anything that dispels the concerns of any Lebanese party, enhances shared living, and prevents any type of domination from any side over another side." In a speech during a dinner for the Shouf district committee, he indicated that "the presidency is an essential start for the solution, but it is not the solution by itself. The program of the term is more important than the president's name, but the name of the president indicates whether there is serious thinking about a solution, about a developed system, about moving away from the previous system, and about a promising and different future." He believed that "the name of the president and his personality should not be detached from the project he carries and what the government will transform, in harmony with the president, into a governing program and in cooperation with the parliamentary council."
Basil said, "To the extent that we are pleased that this approach has been adopted by the quintet group that met in Doha, to the same extent, we demand that it turns into a Lebanese choice, and we must not waste any minute, aiming to agree on a program and a name before September." He announced, "We will not accept anyone imposing a president on us against our choice, conviction, and feelings, without a significant national counterpart that matches our choices, convictions, feelings, and ambitions."
