An informed source indicated that there are no signs suggesting that French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Lebanon for Christmas and New Year's to greet and check on the French forces operating within UNIFIL and to meet with Lebanese officials and politicians. It noted that he will be in Qatar today to watch the World Cup final between France and Argentina, followed by an official visit to Jordan. A statement from the Élysée in the evening indicated that Macron will spend Christmas aboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
However, the same source revealed, according to "Al-Diyar," that there is active European diplomatic movement towards Lebanon between Christmas and New Year's, with several envoys and senior officials from the foreign ministries of Italy, Spain, and France expected to visit. According to the information, this European diplomatic initiative is aimed at assessing the situation in Lebanon and discussing various issues, including the atmosphere surrounding the presidential election, economic and financial reforms, and the situation of Syrian refugees.
In this context, political sources told "Al-Diyar" that all discussions about initiatives or consultations among some foreign entities regarding names of presidential candidates are merely unsubstantiated speculations, particularly since there has been no serious discussion with political leaders regarding a specific candidate. The sources added that Paris, which primarily undertakes the task of mobilizing around the presidential elections, has not directly discussed specific candidates with Lebanese political parties but has focused on listening to some views generally, expressing readiness to assist Lebanese citizens on the condition that they help themselves to reach consensus and select and elect a new president who enjoys the trust of the Lebanese people.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia is still in a state of wait-and-see and has not provided any clear answers regarding the proposed candidates, but has recently expressed interest in engaging more in discussions about the Lebanese situation and the presidential elections, proposing general topics in this regard. On the other hand, the American administration, according to the sources, has not directly revealed any preferred or supported candidate, noting that it has delegated France to act and seek to expedite the election of the president in Lebanon, while also praising the Lebanese army and its leadership on several occasions.
