Today, Thursday, Speaker of the House Nabih Berri received the head of the Progressive Socialist Party and the Democratic Gathering, MP Taymour Joumblatt, along with a delegation consisting of MPs Marwan Hamadeh, Akram Shehayeb, Hadi Abou El-Hassan, Wael Abou Faour, and Faisal Al-Sayegh, alongside a delegation from the Progressive Socialist Party. The meeting took place in Ain El-Tineh, with the attendance of MPs Fadi Alama and Ashraf Bayoud from the Development and Liberation Bloc, along with several members of the political bureau and executive committee of the Amal Movement.
The meeting was dedicated to discussing the latest political and field developments in Lebanon and the region in light of the increasing Israeli aggression on Gaza and Lebanon. It also addressed frameworks for cooperation and joint coordination between the Development and Liberation Bloc, the Democratic Gathering, the Progressive Socialist Party, and the Amal Movement across various fields.
After the meeting, MP Akram Shehayeb stated: “We were honored to be accompanied by the head of the Democratic Gathering and colleagues from the party in a visit to the President. The communication with His Excellency is ongoing, especially today, given the historical relationship between the Amal Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party.”
He continued: “Today's meeting confirms that, and the consultation with His Excellency was crucial. He is keen and a constant guarantor of stability. From our position, we have sought and continue to seek to ensure that political disputes and narrow personal interests do not affect the leadership structure of the military institution, as the army has been and continues to be the guarantor of the country's security, especially given the dangers arising from the Israeli barbarity, whether in Gaza, the West Bank, or southern Lebanon.”
He added: “Regarding the presidential file, we, along with President Berri and many others, believe that dialogue is the shortest and only way to produce a president for the republic and to reactivate the work of institutions, preserving security and protecting what remains of productive sites in this country.”
When asked about the pressure surrounding the army commander file and the fast-tracked laws, particularly in light of Speaker Berri's call to convene the bureau of the House of Representatives for a legislative session next week, Shehayeb responded: “I believe it was expected from the government to make such a decision, but President Berri, who is always committed to stability and the military institution, has called for a bureau meeting on Monday and for a general session before the 15th of the month, as promised earlier. It is customary in the House of Representatives to have draft laws and fast-tracked proposals. I do not think that the President has ever failed to prioritize the essentials in the House; he will manage the session as he always does successfully.”
President Berri also discussed political developments and general conditions during his meeting with Minister of Tourism in the caretaker government, Walid Nassar. In the afternoon, he received MP Ghassan Attallah from the "Strong Lebanon" bloc, who delivered an invitation for him to participate in the municipal forum regarding Syrian displacement which is organized by the Free Patriotic Movement in Rabwah on the 16th of this month.
