For over four months, the relationship between the second presidential headquarters in Ain al-Tineh and the "Free Patriotic Movement" headquarters in Mirna al-Shalouhi has witnessed a positive dynamic, following previous shocks and tensions that preceded, accompanied, and followed the presidential term of President Michel Aoun. After several attempts, it later became clear that some individuals involved had shown a desire to purify the relationship between Speaker Nabih Berri and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Gibran Bassil, while practically deepening the divide. However, former Minister and MP Ghassan Atallah succeeded in making the necessary breakthrough, facilitating the development of the relationship at least regarding essential files needing national consensus.
According to an informed source, "The visits that MP Atallah is making to Ain al-Tineh, both public and discreet, do not confine discussions to the presidential file, but also involve interrelations between Amal Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement, basic reform files, and the presidential election file. The overall atmosphere of the discussions is very positive, a positivity enforced by the recent developments that positioned Lebanon at the heart of the ongoing military confrontation in the region, which for the first time reflected a sharp division within Lebanon regarding the utility of Hezbollah’s involvement in this war."
The source revealed to "Anbaa" that "the recent meeting between Berri and Atallah focused on ways to prevent the Israeli enemy from exploiting the internal division regarding the war, and how to cooperate jointly to address negative occurrences that have emerged in border villages and towns, particularly in the town of Rmeish. The leadership of the Free Patriotic Movement has actively engaged in meetings, visits, and communications with the influential figures of Rmeish to calm tensions in cooperation with Amal Movement and Hezbollah, and these efforts have yielded results thus far and are under constant follow-up."
The source clarified that "the discussion between the Speaker and the Deputy from the movement always covered the permanent item on the agenda of any meeting, which is the presidential election, stemming from the fact that the Free Patriotic Movement, through its leader Gibran Bassil, has addressed Berri's call for dialogue concerning the presidential election positively, both in the first call where Bassil supported any dialogue leading to the election of a president within constitutional frameworks and in the second call which prompted the National Moderation Bloc to launch its initiative after disagreements on terms, between those who rejected dialogue since it was required to go to the council and elect a president, and those who preferred consultations within a specified time frame and then proceed to election sessions. Thus, Bassil, supportive of dialogue, wants any form of convergence among Lebanese parties to lead to practical results, primarily the conclusion of the presidential vacancy and the strengthening of national partnership to confront fragmentation projects."
The source indicated that "there is alignment between Berri and Bassil on the necessity of ensuring support for the National Moderation Bloc's initiative to succeed in achieving consultations according to a clear and defined mechanism. Some issues are being negotiated to avoid any obstructive knots hindering convergence under any form, whether consultation or dialogue. Since the Bloc's initiative is the only one currently proposed, the interest lies in supporting and succeeding it, which both sides are striving for."
The source emphasized that "the most crucial aspect of the meetings between Berri and Atallah is their mutual concern to avoid jeopardizing security stability and civil peace, and to curb all attempts to transfer the Lebanese scene to a phase of sectarian conflict. It seems that some have not learned from the tragedies of the recent past. The agreement is to prioritize moderate and inclusive discourse and to warn the Lebanese, particularly in mixed communities with a shared coexistence, against listening to destructive project advocates, and to stay away from anything related to sectarian or confessional provocation."
