All eyes are on the Maronite Patriarchate in Lebanon following the presidential vacancy; it has not yet actively engaged in what should be a primary issue for Christians, especially the Maronites. The Patriarchate previously gathered Christian leaders under its dome at a similar time of vacancy about eight years ago, where they agreed to support one of them for the presidency. However, it has failed to achieve this currently due to these leaders’ refusal to sit together because of their ongoing disputes. Today, Bkerke is attempting to replace the broad dialogue among Christian party leaders with consultations conducted individually with each party, striving to reach agreements on several names that could be presented for election in the parliament.
Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai stated yesterday that the points of contention could be resolved if the officials sat together at one table, adding: "And since they are not ready to sit together, I called for a special conference under the auspices of the United Nations to resolve the points of contention." Al-Rai pointed out that "the dialogue now is directed toward the parliament, voting, and consulting to reach a result." He emphasized, "An agreement cannot be reached on a candidate; the agreement will be through voting and consulting."
Sources from the Maronite Patriarchate report that "several parties have visited Patriarch al-Rai recently to urge him to initiate the presidential file, giving him what resembles a 'national mandate' in this regard, due to his symbolic role and authority, considering Bkerke is ultimately the 'mother of the child' in this matter, although it has never operated from a sectarian perspective."
The sources mentioned in a statement to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that "the Patriarch has communicated and is still in touch with various parties, and discussions have undoubtedly begun regarding the names of candidates, confirming that there is no specific candidate for the Patriarchate, which does not seek to elevate any particular person. What is important to it is reaching an understanding on names among the Christian forces to facilitate the election process." Conversely, they note that "the constitutional rules require the parliamentary council to fulfill its role by holding consecutive sessions until electing a president, overcoming the impediment of quorum disruption; as a deputy who was mandated by the people cannot treat his constitutional duties so lightly."
The sources consider that "the vertical-political division is obstructing the elections and preventing the political forces from reaching an agreement. Everything happening thus far falls under the framework of undermining names; when one party proposes a certain name, the other party rejects it simply because it did not come from them." They point out that "given this reality, Bkerke cannot stand idly by; thus, it is striving to reach a minimum understanding on a name or two, or even three, to facilitate the parliamentary mission, currently taking place through side consultations among the concerned forces."
According to the information, several names have been discussed in Bkerke, but so far, there has been no agreement among the main Christian forces to proceed with any of them, including Army Commander General Joseph Aoun and former ministers like Jihad Azour, Naji Bustani, Ziyad Baroud, among others, which are names that are well-regarded by the Patriarchate.
Bkerke does not attach much importance to engaging in the constitutional debate regarding the powers of the caretaker government, considering that "the priority today, and for the past two months, should have been the presidential elections and nothing else."
The president of the Maronite League, Ambassador Khalil Karam, emphasizes that "Bkerke has a significant role in pushing Christian forces to meet, determine the constants of the phase, evaluate mistakes and dangers, and establish a code of conduct for their relationships. There are many obstacles and difficulties facing the Lord of Bkerke in this area, and he is responsive to every demand or proposal that could help advance matters."
Karam noted in a statement to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that "what happened this time is different from the past; President Michel Aoun left the presidency, and there is only a caretaker government surrounded by constitutional and political debates regarding its powers and roles. What heightened the debate was President Aoun's acceptance of the government's resignation. In my opinion, the argument will drag on ineffectively, making the shortest, most effective, and beneficial solution the swift election of a new president, thereby eliminating the vacancy and resolving the issue fundamentally."
Karam believes that "if anyone intends or plans to marginalize the Christian role, we will strive to thwart it by all means. If anyone thinks in this direction, we will not let them execute it." He adds: "Here, I do not absolve Christian leaders from their responsibilities and say to them: no one can marginalize the Christian role if you cease the game of power struggles and elimination wars among yourselves. If you do not stop, you have no one to blame but yourselves."
