The French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian continues his communications and consultations with Lebanese and regional leaders with the aim of swiftly reaching consensus on a name for the presidency. According to informed sources, he expressed his desire during his recent meeting with President Nabih Berri to return to Beirut after the New York meeting on Tuesday (19th of this month) for the foreign ministers of the Quintet group, who will listen to his report regarding the outcome of his discussions with party leaders, parliamentary blocs, independent and reformist deputies, as well as concerned ambassadors and spiritual and military personalities.
These discussions will take place, instead of a dialogue, at the Pine Palace and will address the responses that Le Drian received from Lebanese deputies regarding the questions he posed in his message through the French embassy. Depending on the responses, further coordination will occur with President Nabih Berri, who has not abandoned his proposal for a dialogue among the blocs in the parliament, to be chaired by his deputy, Elias Bou Saab.
President Berri confirmed, “We are committed to the dialogue initiative, which is the only one on the table.” In a televised interview, Berri indicated that “the French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian has adopted and supported this initiative, which is the necessary entry point to address the presidential impasse,” announcing, “I will issue the invitation for dialogue according to the proper protocols, and I hope all powers and blocs will exercise national responsibility and fear God.”
In the meantime, positions regarding a third presidential option are expected to emerge in the coming days, but the problem lies in the lack of local understanding and differing approaches concerning the completion of the presidential election and the president's program. Political sources noted several observations at the conclusion of Le Drian's visit regarding the mission assigned to him to find a solution to the presidential vacancy and elect a president.
Firstly, expanding the circle of his meetings, which included all parties, deputies, and political and religious figures, allowing him to attentively listen to their viewpoints and visions on how to exit the crisis. He was informed about the motivations behind the commitment of the Shiite duo and their allies to conduct a dialogue before the presidential elections, in contrast to the complete rejection by opposition components of this condition, which they considered unconstitutional.
Some, especially during the meeting held with Sunni deputies at the Saudi ambassador's residence, attended by the Mufti Abdul Latif Deryan, viewed this as an attempt to amend the Taif Agreement or to entrench norms that transcend it, making it impossible to agree to, no matter the justifications presented for holding it.
While awaiting Le Drian's return, the vacancy remains the prevailing situation, with keen observation on the financial and security conditions and the fear of their further deterioration.
