Despite the opposition forces counting on an increase in the number of votes for the presidential candidate, Deputy Michel Maouad, in the sixth session for electing a president taking place today, it seems certain that, at least based on current data, Maouad will not be able to secure the backing of all 67 opposition deputies due to their divisions over his nomination. Some deputies, including several Sunni members and members of the "Change" bloc, refuse to support Maouad, arguing that he is incapable of assuming the presidency even if he receives 67 votes (out of 128), as "Hezbollah" and its allies will not accept providing the necessary constitutional quorum of 86 deputies required to complete the presidential elections. Meanwhile, a portion of the opposing deputies confirms that they will not vote for Maouad due to disagreements with him regarding his economic and social vision.
The opposition deputies are distributed among various blocs including the "Strong Republic" bloc, or the "Lebanese Forces," which consists of 19 deputies, the "Democratic Gathering" bloc with 8 deputies, the "Lebanese Phalanges" bloc with 4 deputies, in addition to the 13 change deputies despite their disbandment, the 6 deputies from the "National Moderation" bloc, and 4 deputies from the "Renewal" bloc, along with around 13 independent deputies.
The fifth and final parliamentary session held for the presidential elections concluded with 44 votes for Maouad, after he received 39 votes in the previous session, with his supporters asserting that the actual number was 49 due to the absence of 5 deputies who practically support him during the session. Among the opposition deputies who voted with the phrase "New Lebanon" is Ahmad Al-Khair from the "National Moderation" bloc, who clarified in a statement to "Asharq Al-Awsat" that the deputies of "National Moderation" are not against Maouad personally. "Our position to vote for New Lebanon stems from the belief that electing a president requires a two-thirds majority, which means consensus among the majority of parliamentary blocs," he asserted, emphasizing that they will remain "outside political alignments in an attempt to be a connecting link between all national blocs."
Conversely, several "Change" deputies do not hide that their rejection of Maouad is due to disagreements with him on several strategic points, especially those related to his economic and financial vision. In this context, one of these deputies, who refused to be named, told "Asharq Al-Awsat": "Maouad has his vision regarding the situation we have reached and the solution, and we have a completely different perspective. We are also convinced that those supporting Maouad today are aware that he is unable to assume the presidency, and they are holding onto his candidacy trying to increase his vote count to improve negotiation terms with Hezbollah and its allies." The deputy added: "When the time comes for a major settlement abroad, most of those clinging to Maouad inside will adhere to its terms after receiving, as usual, their shares and benefits, with increasing likelihood that the settlement will include the presidency of the republic and the government."
Deputy Firas Hamdan from the "Change" bloc does not hide that his disagreement, along with several of his colleagues, with Maouad is "an economic and social disagreement directly, specifically concerning the issue of distributing losses," noting that their perspective is "completely contrary to Maouad's approach, and we consider that those responsible are the banks and their major shareholders, and the beneficiaries in power." It is worth noting that two deputies from the 13 "Change" deputies - Wadih Al-Sadiq and Rami Fanj - are voting for Maouad, while the rest continue to refuse to support him.
Recently, the head of the "Lebanese Forces" party, Samir Geagea, renewed his call for opposition deputies to unite and vote for the candidate, Michel Maouad, considering they face two options: electing him or facing a presidential vacuum that he claims the "Hezbollah" team and its allies desire.
