The French presidential envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, began talks upon his arrival in Beirut yesterday afternoon. It is rumored that the political circles do not place significant trust in these discussions, viewing them as disconnected from the realities of the Lebanese political situation. However, the intermediary is operating within a specific mandate, which some have linked to preparing a clear file for President Emmanuel Macron, who will meet President Joe Biden at the Normandy Summit to discuss international and Middle Eastern issues, including the situation in Lebanon.
This visit comes amid ambiguities regarding the stance on the situation in Gaza, as well as the divergence on the issue of Syrian refugees following the Brussels Conference and Lebanon's position, recently reiterated by the Cabinet, which endorsed the parliamentary recommendation for a gradual and voluntary return of Syrian refugees and the application of Lebanese laws on irregular individuals, as reported by "Al-Liwaa."
The seasoned diplomat did not bring any proposals to Beirut but is seeking answers to questions regarding the difficulties preventing the implementation of the roadmap laid out by the Quintet, as highlighted in the latest ambassadors' statement. Political sources revealed that Le Drian's meetings with various political leaders and MPs focused primarily on inquiring about their positions on the Quintet's recent statement and whether it could facilitate common ground among the political parties, ultimately leading to the election of a new president.
The sources denied that Le Drian carried any new French initiative or proposal to resolve the presidential election crisis. Instead, he aimed to gain a realistic understanding of all parties' positions regarding the Quintet's recent statement and to explore their insights on how to emerge from the current crisis, within a comprehensive framework to be conveyed to President Emmanuel Macron for presentation to President Joe Biden and the presidential team tasked with the Lebanese file during their upcoming meeting at the annual celebration in Normandy, France, early next June, according to "Al-Liwaa."
It can be said that the second day of Le Drian's meetings will be decisive, as he is set to meet with President Nabih Berri and then with the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, MP Mohammed Raad. Following that, he will visit Maarab to meet with the leader of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea, and will host a lunch with MPs from the Independent Parliamentary Bloc (which includes MPs from the National Moderation bloc and the New Lebanon bloc).
