The calm of the "holiday" day for Independence Day was only disrupted by a statement from the Deputy of the "National Moderation" bloc, Ahmad Al-Khayr, who launched an attack on the head of the "Lebanese Forces" party, Samir Geagea, without naming him. He described him as the architect of the "worst presidential settlement," accusing him of trying to appoint himself as a "spiritual guide for the opposition" and monopolizing the Sunni component's opinion in parliament, just two days before a new session for electing a president.
Sources following the matter saw Al-Khayr's tweet as a sign that the rift which had previously surfaced between the Sunni components and Geagea before the elections is returning now, with the "Lebanese Forces" leader attempting to solidify the opposition front behind their candidate, Michel Moawad. However, they emphasized that "this is not the time for political disputes but rather for unifying the opposition ranks, as the circumstances are rich enough without these stances from both sides."
Former deputy in the "Strong Republic" party, Imad Wakim, questioned the purpose behind these stances and the benefits of the bickering. He assured that "no one is trying to be the architect of the opposition; it's merely that Geagea is seeking to gather 65 votes for Moawad, the opposition candidate," reminding that the Lebanese Forces have a significant parliamentary bloc.
In an interview with the electronic newspaper "Al-Anba," he believed that "gathering 65 votes for Moawad would put considerable pressure on the opposing team that votes blank, as Lebanon is under international and Arab scrutiny, and thus this team cannot continue to disrupt sessions where a candidate could secure enough votes to win the presidential entitlement, even in the second round."
Wakim also pointed out the positions of some change-oriented deputies, arguing that "they should adhere to the choice of the Lebanese people who voted for them based on the October 17 uprising and coordinate with the opposition instead of voting with invalid ballots sometimes or for candidates who do not enjoy a minimum level of consensus at other times."
He anticipated that tomorrow's session would repeat the scenario of previous sessions, as no new changes have occurred and the parties still maintain their stances. The number of supporters for Moawad might increase, as he frequently communicates with independent deputies and attracts them to his team, with positive vibes in this regard.
