The patriarchal edifice has not undertaken any broad and extensive movement concerning the presidential phase, as was rumored after the statement from the summit of Catholic patriarchs in Bkerke. Instead of any extensive meetings, the Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi decided to send an envoy to Christian leaders to discuss the presidential issue away from the spotlight.
On Monday evening, the head of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, met in Maarab with the Maronite Archbishop of Antelias, Bishop Antoine Bou Najm, sent by Al-Rahi. Following the hour-long meeting, Bishop Bou Najm described it as "good," as many issues were discussed. He urged everyone, especially Christians, to "fast and pray for the sake of Lebanon, considering that the evil is great in this country, and I remind you that Jesus Christ told us that this type of demon can only be driven out through fasting and prayer. On this basis, we emphasize this call."
Before meeting with Geagea, Bou Najm visited the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gibran Bassil, and the head of the Kataeb Party, MP Sami Gemayel. After his visit to Maarab, he met with the Independence Movement's presidential candidate, MP Michel Moawad. He is expected to meet today with the head of the Marada Movement, Sleiman Frangieh.
According to informed sources, this tour aims to help Al-Rahi form a clear, comprehensive, and accurate view of the Christian forces' approach to the presidential file so that the patriarch can decide, based on this, on the form and nature of any initiative he may propose in the coming phase to try to break the negative presidential stalemate.
However, so far, what has emerged from the church envoy's meetings does not encourage expectations of any rapprochement in the foreseeable future. The Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb Party are calling for adherence to the democratic process and commitment to its rules and principles, away from any pre-packaged agreements, asserting that the role of the Parliament is to "elect" and not to stamp on an agreement reached outside constitutional institutions. Meanwhile, they do not oppose any dialogues that the patriarchate or others may initiate, whereas Maarab is reserved on this point and believes the dialogue should take place exclusively in Parliament and between electoral sessions.
On the other hand, Bassil has a different approach, emphasizing the importance of the "qualifications" that must be available in the next president for his election, prioritizing them over pure democratic gameplay. According to sources, Bassil's conditions aim primarily to block his competitors, notably Frangieh and Army Commander General Joseph Aoun.
While Bassil's opponents see that he wants to be the president himself or to have a successor he approves of, this divergence is something that Al-Rahi will try to overcome by inviting the Christian parties to show openness to discussing a list of names and to bring all of them to Parliament and rely on the election.
The sources point out that this path is not guaranteed to succeed, noting that the Lebanese Forces drew Bou Najm's attention to the fact that this "exit" does not mean the election will take place since Hezbollah is unlikely to agree to open the doors of Parliament except to bring its candidate to Baabda. Here lies the main obstacle; the crisis will not be resolved by a Christian-Christian understanding because it is not fundamentally a Christian-Christian matter, the sources conclude.