Basil: The Alternative to the Failure of Consensus is Comprehensive Confrontation

The head of the "Free Patriotic Movement," Gibran Basil, indicated that "any talk of excluding anyone is meaningless, and the electoral sessions will be consecutive for three days, with four rounds in each session, as we proposed to limit candidacy to two persons if we do not reach a result after 12 rounds." He pointed out that "the alternative to the failure of the consensus path is comprehensive confrontation to end the vacuum. We are faced with two options: either consensus or failing to adapt to the vacuum and not submitting to it." He noted that "it is natural for the Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri to chair the consultation sessions. The proposed consultation will not be customary but will be necessitated by circumstances." He added, "The guarantee is that those who attend the dialogue commit to not boycotting the electoral sessions, that the consultation period is limited, and that the sessions are consecutive with successive rounds to reach a result." In a speech following the presidential movement he undertook, Basil said, "Today, we met with MP Mohammed Raad, who confirmed Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah's statement regarding separating the presidency from events in Gaza and the south, emphasizing readiness for consultations." He added, "But it is clear that we need more discussion among ourselves to reach a solution." Regarding the summer meeting, Basil revealed: "There was a lot of frankness and warmth, and we understood the anxieties and stated that we do not concede anything, nor our candidate on whom we agreed; if consensus is not reached, we will continue with our candidate or agree on another candidate."