As the economic and living situation continues to deteriorate, amidst the pessimistic reality and the frustration felt by the Lebanese due to rampant inflation and the ongoing rise of the dollar, the country has reached a deadlock. Calls for a general strike and protests have revived, coinciding with the ongoing strike by teachers. Deputy Taymour Jumblatt, head of the Democratic Gathering Bloc, expressed his fears for "security and stability," urging for "immediate and unhesitant action to take necessary rescue steps before it is too late, starting with agreeing on a President for the Republic and opening the door to a much-needed passage of relief."
At the same time, Deputy Gebran Bassil, head of the Strong Lebanon Bloc, reiterated his refusal to participate in the legislative session that Speaker Nabih Berri plans to call for based on what the Council’s Bureau Meeting may conclude on Monday. This suggests that the session has been practically postponed once again to respect the constitutional principles that Berri insists upon. However, informed circles regarding Ain al-Tineh responded to Bassil's remarks and the warning issued by former President Michel Aoun against extending the term of the Governor of the Central Bank, Riad Salameh, stating through "Anbaa" online that "it is unacceptable to disrupt the Parliament as they have disrupted the formation of the government and the election of a President for the Republic." They noted that "only the military institution and the Parliament remain in the country, and they are working to disrupt both, so they will not be allowed to do so, no matter what excuses they invent; they should agree on a President today before tomorrow."
Regarding the extension of Salameh’s term, Ain al-Tineh's circles attributed the accusations back to their sources, saying, "Everyone knows that former President Michel Aoun was the one who proposed the renewal for Salameh outside the agenda to the Cabinet," adding, "Perhaps they needed him at that time."
To avoid any confusion, Mohammad Khawaja, a member of the Development and Liberation Bloc, confirmed that "President Berri and the Development and Liberation Bloc insist on electing a President more than ever, but the election of the President cannot happen without agreeing on his name, a point emphasized by Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt."
In an interview with "Anbaa" online, Khawaja invited the opposition deputies in the legislative session to respond to Berri's call for dialogue and agree on the name of the President, as it has become clear through the eleven sessions called by Berri that reaching a consensus on a President is impossible without dialogue and agreement, noting that the Council has no choice but to legislate. He emphasized that "if there is a vacancy in a certain institution, the vacuum should not extend to other institutions, and we will not allow the Council to be disrupted." Thus, given this gray atmosphere, the living crisis is likely to prolong amid the ongoing political struggle and the lack of consideration for the suffering of the Lebanese as conditions worsen and any near resolution seems elusive.
