Intensified internal communications and coordination with international and regional decision-making capitals are underway, aiming to achieve a breakthrough that leads to relief in the Lebanese presidential file. There is a strong push for adopting the "third option" to open the closed doors of the parliament, and it seems that matters are leaning towards a presidential settlement that would produce a president capable of navigating the ongoing Lebanese crisis, as reported by "Anbaa Al-Kuwait."
If this third option progresses, it could allow for the reactivation of the water fountain in the main courtyard of the presidential palace in Baabda, symbolizing the presence of a president for the country. It appears that the qualifications for the third candidate apply to only a few aspiring individuals for the presidency, indicating a narrowing of the gap among political contenders, culminating in a selection among the limited names based on the equation: providing a strong Christian backing for the president, while also gaining acceptance from the Shiite duo.
This presidential initiative on the ground awaits the appropriate external timing for the hoped-for breakthrough in filling the presidential vacancy that has existed since October 31, 2022. Accordingly, the Qatari-French summit between His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, and French President Emmanuel Macron holds top interest in Beirut, as both countries are members of the quintet group.
The presidential file and the situation in the south remain at the forefront of concerns as they negatively impact the lives of Lebanese citizens, who have placed all their hopes on preventing the war from expanding amid the worsening living crisis, rising food prices, and scarce job opportunities with the approach of the holy month of Ramadan. This situation is compounded by widespread discussions about the possibility that state employees, including military and security personnel, retirees, and other employees, may not receive their salaries at the end of February. In this regard, ten deputies from the Kataeb, Change, and Renew blocs have filed a challenge against the budget law.
