French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed during his meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail that the goal of his first visit to Lebanon is to "assess the situation in order to help find solutions to the crisis facing Lebanon and to discuss with various parties how to achieve the desired solution." After the meeting, Le Drian responded to a question about his assessment of the situation in Lebanon by saying, "I wish you a good day."
For his part, Mikati emphasized that "the entry point to the solution lies in electing a new president," indicating that "the government has completed the required reform projects and signed the preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund, and the approval of these projects in the Parliament would provide a boost to the anticipated economic and social solutions."
#### Bkerke
From the Grand Serail, Le Drian moved to the patriarchal headquarters in Bkerke to meet with Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi, accompanied by French Ambassador Anne Grillo. After the meeting, Le Drian stated, "I will communicate with all Lebanese parties to find a way out of the crisis and will seek to put together a reform agenda that provides hope for bringing Lebanon out of its predicament. I carry no proposal, but I will listen to everyone. The solution primarily comes from the Lebanese."
He noted that "this is a first visit that will be followed by another visit to Lebanon to get out of the impasse, and the solution comes from the Lebanese, and France will always remain present."
#### Maarab
Afterward, the French envoy, accompanied by Grillo, met with Samir Geagea, the head of the Lebanese Forces party, at the party's headquarters in Maarab, attended by MPs: Strida Geagea, George Adwan, and Pierre Bou Assi, as well as former Minister Richard Kyumjian and Tony Darwish.
Following the meeting, Geagea confirmed that "the presidency issue requires 128 votes, and the file does not require international intervention." He described the French envoy's tour as "exploratory," noting that "he asked questions about various matters and had no proposals to present."
He said, "All we are discussing is that the MPs are positioned correctly in their way of working. With all my love for France, we do not wish for its intervention, nor for Iran's, and we want a domestic sovereign decision. We only want to elect a president, but unfortunately, some have obstructed what could have been a decisive result, favoring the election of former Minister Sleiman Frangieh, which will not happen."
Geagea viewed "dialogue as necessary, and we are ready to agree on a candidate, but not in the current manner, especially amid the insistence of the 'axis of resistance' on nominating Frangieh."
#### Bassil's Residence
Additionally, information indicated that the meeting between French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian and the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, lasted more than an hour and was described as positive. It was reported that Bassil was informed by Le Drian that the previous phase had ended and a new phase had begun through his tour, emphasizing that dialogue among Lebanese parties remains crucial.
Bassil explained that producing a president can only result from a consensus among all Lebanese regarding the person and the program, with later requests for international support to implement the program.
In this context, MP Nada Bustani commented on the Bassil-Le Drian meeting via "Al-Jadeed", stating that the meeting lasted over an hour and the atmosphere was good, indicating that Le Drian heard from Bassil that electing a president in Lebanon can only be the result of consensus among political components.
As for presidential candidate Minister Sleiman Frangieh, he accepted the French envoy's invitation for lunch at the Pine Palace. After the meeting, Frangieh tweeted that it was positive and that the dialogue was constructive for the upcoming phase. He was accompanied by MP Tony Frangieh and former Minister Roni Araiji. Meanwhile, sources close to meeting indicated that the invitation was notable and that the discussion was deep and candid.
"We thank former French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and French Ambassador Anne Grillo for their gracious invitation. The meeting was positive and the dialogue constructive for the upcoming phase," tweeted Frangieh.
According to sources close to the "Wardna" website, the significant questions raised by French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian during his meetings with officials included: What is the exit strategy for electing a president? What are the main tasks assigned to the next president, regardless of the broad agreed-upon titles? Who is the person capable of carrying out these tasks? Will there be a dispute over the prime minister after the election of the president? How do political forces view the composition of the government?
