Member of the "National Moderation" bloc, MP Walid Bahraini, stated that amid the significant political division in Lebanon, "we will not see a president of the republic before 2026, and the Parliament will not be able to elect a president." He noted that the parliamentary term will likely end, and there may be an extension for the Parliament. However, despite this, a president will not be elected unless alliances are formed within the Parliament to reach the 86 votes needed to elect a president.
In a statement to "Anbaa," Bahraini remarked, "It has been customary in Lebanon that the President does not come without consensus. The disagreement is internal to Lebanon, and what is happening in Gaza and the regional and international situation may be an obstacle, but the Lebanese situation is an internal matter, and the internal division among us is what hinders the election of a president."
He added, "Unfortunately, none of the politicians and officials in the country show any mercy, despite all our calls and appeals. The Lebanese people can no longer bear it; the state has collapsed, and the government now has significant burdens, but issues can only be resolved through reorganizing the Lebanese state."
Regarding the extension of Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, Bahraini indicated that significant progress had been made in this regard, with the extension of General Aoun expected through the Parliament. In response to a question, he considered that this step keeps the option of the army commander as a potential presidential candidate open, meaning that his share remains preserved. There is hope that he will become the president of the republic.
Bahraini stated that the "National Moderation" bloc and the "New Lebanon" bloc still remain cautious about deciding on a name, waiting for the presidential situation to mature, after which they will announce their opinion and the name they would propose.
On the French and Qatari movements in Lebanon, Bahraini welcomed the French envoy, appreciating his efforts, and emphasized the significant role of Qatar. He stated, "I draw the attention of the envoys coming to Lebanon that the sands of Lebanon are shifting and require high wisdom and reconsideration in entering Lebanon. We are very concerned about the success of the Qatari initiative and hope it achieves significant results in addressing the Lebanese crisis, but so far there hasn’t been anything, despite the considerable progress made. The war in Gaza may have shuffled the cards anew, and I see that given the difficult internal Lebanese situation, no one has reached a conclusion. I hope the Qatari movement resumes vigorously, effectively, and with more influence and love, and I encourage all Lebanese parties to cooperate with this initiative to the fullest extent so that we can elect a president of the republic."
