Former Minister and MP Nihad Al-Mashnouq called for "reconciliation among Lebanese through inviting parliamentary blocs to bilateral sessions with President Nabih Berri in Parliament, as part of efforts to elect a President of the Republic". After visiting Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Deryan, he noted that "there is no majority in the Parliament capable of making a decisive resolution on the presidential issue, and both parties possess the veto right, either through voting or obstructing the quorum. The Mufti will undertake serious efforts towards all parties, complementing his actions which began when the French presidential envoy met with Sunni MPs at the residence of Saudi Ambassador Walid Bukhari last week, a session that was calm and fruitful and confirmed the possibility of reaching a united national stance that can help save what remains of the homeland".
Al-Mashnouq conveyed the Mufti's call to expedite "the reformation of authority and the election of a President and the formation of a government, without exposing the Lebanese to further collapses," stating that "His Eminence conveys this invitation to everyone he meets from the members of the quintet committee and the representatives of the five nations within it, and to the Lebanese parties calling for dialogue, foremost among them Nabih Berri".
He also considered that "the Qatari initiative is more of an exploration of opinions rather than a decision to support one candidate over another", naming it "an exploratory process, after which the Qatari side will revert to the quintet committee, as their movement is coordinated with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which maintains excellent relations with all members of the committee. After exploration, the Qataris will present the results of their tour to draw conclusions". Al-Mashnouq added, "I do not expect the Qatari endeavor to succeed or fail, but it will succeed in seriously exploring everyone's positions regarding the proposed names".
### Environment Minister
Additionally, Mufti Deryan welcomed Environment Minister in the caretaker government Nasser Yassin, who said after the meeting: "We congratulated His Eminence on the renewal of confidence in him, representing Dar Al-Fatwa and the Sunni community during difficult times in the country, advocating for dialogue among all components of the country. We discussed with him the issues concerning the country and informed him about some environmental projects we are working on to improve the environmental situation in various regions, and the projects in the Bekaa regarding pollution reduction of the Litani River, among others, and how to collaborate with all religious institutions to raise awareness about environmental matters".
Yassin added: "We also touched on the 'Climate Summit' that will be held in the United Arab Emirates and the role of spiritual leaders in raising awareness about climate changes, promoting these messages to all religious institutions".
### Shuqair
Mufti Deryan also received the head of "Kulluna Li Beirut" movement, former Minister Mohammad Shuqair, who said after the meeting: "I wished that today’s visit to His Eminence would be for congratulating ourselves and His Eminence on the recent extension. His Eminence is a significant national figure, we need him, along with his wisdom and the calm he possesses, and we wish him all success, continued health, and a long life".
Regarding the economic situation, Shuqair stated: "There is no doubt that this summer has been good, and the situation has significantly improved compared to last year. The expected GDP this year is between 34 and 36 billion dollars, but what is needed is divine guidance for some politicians who remain misled so that we can elect a President of the Republic, because despite the efforts of the private sector, it cannot suffice without electing a President and forming a government; the country will not be set right".
He added: "The private sector has managed to rehabilitate itself during this period, adapted to the situation, and we have overcome this difficult stage. Unfortunately, the biggest catastrophe today is in the public sector, which receives salaries equivalent to 10% of their previous amounts, while in the private sector, salaries have reached 80%, and some even hit 100% of what they were before the crisis. For this reason, we hope for the election of a President and a government, with the first priority being to resolve the conditions of the public sector, as what is happening is a crime against them".
Finally, Mufti Deryan received a delegation representing the Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, which included: Mufti Sheikh Abdul Amir Shams Al-Din and Judge Sheikh Mahdi Al-Yahfoufi. The delegation congratulated His Eminence on the extension of his term and discussed Islamic and national affairs and the latest developments on the Lebanese scene.
